Module 6

Question 1

Social Support System

Answer 1

The network of relatives, friends, and organizations that provide both emotional support, such as making the individual feel loved or comforted, and instrumental support, which refers to help in managing activities of daily living.

Question 2

Diverse Social Networks

Answer 2

Consist of extensive ties to family, friends, neighbors, and contacts from various community, religious and volunteer organizations.

Question 3

Family-Centred Social Networks

Answer 3

Mainly involve ties to spouses or partners, children, siblings, and parents.

Question 4

Friend-Centred Social Networks

Answer 4

Involve more frequent contact with friends compared to other social ties.

Question 5

Network

Answer 5

grids to visually illustrate relationships of social support

Question 6

Restricted Social Networks

Answer 6

Consist of limited social ties and infrequent contact.

Question 7

Support Bank

Answer 7

The exchanges made between members of the social support network over the life course.

Question 8

Convoy Model of Social Relations

Answer 8

A theoretical model stating that each person moves through life surrounded by a group of people to whom he or she is related through the exchange of social support; dynamic and lifelong in nature.

Question 9

Lack of social support and social isolation have been linked to a number of negative outcomes including:

Answer 9

*increased risk for mortality
*increased risk for depression and suicide
*negative health behaviours
*increased cognitive decline

Question 10

Gender Differences in Social Support Systems

Answer 10

Women are more likely than men to maintain social networks. More social resources to draw on in old age, however may limit autonomy and privacy

Question 11

Verticalization

Answer 11

The increase in family linkages between preceding and subsequent generations because of increased life expectancy coupled with reduced fertility.

Question 12

Bean Pole Family Structure

Answer 12

The phenomenon of four or five generations of a family surviving at one time.

Question 13

Marital Bond

Answer 13

Closest bond. Most people will marry at some point in their lives. Married people report greater well-being than non-married people. Forges economic relationship as well as companionship, affection and sexual gratification.

Question 14

Marital Status Among Older People

Answer 14

Because women live longer than men, they are more widows than widowers. In 2018 70% of men aged 65+ were married compared to 46% women.
Divorce rates of older people has risen 5% since 1980

Question 15

Marital Satisfaction over Life Course

Answer 15

Follow a U-shaped pattern. High satisfaction before kids, lower satisfaction while rearing kids due to pressures and higher satisfaction peaking in retirement years. Single most factor in unhappy marriages is alcoholism.

Question 16

Marital Quality and Health

Answer 16

Marital Quality has significant effect on health.
*lower mortality rates
*less mobility loss
*fewer chronic conditions
*better physical and mental health
*more resources, can encourage healthy behaviours, discourage risky behaviour, larger social support system, less depression

Question 17

Pets

Answer 17

can provide an important source of companionship in later life, particularly for older adults who may be homebound or socially isolated
*can help people cope with stress, bereavement and loss. care facilities it has become common to develop animal therapy programs.

Question 18

Sexual Activity in Later Life

Answer 18

frequency declines–men report less decline
*erectile dysfunction, menopause-dries and shrinks vagina

Question 19

Changing Family Structures-4

Answer 19

*Verticalization (more generations alive at the same time
*Increased likelihood of having living siblings
*Increased life expectancy of men
*Increased frequency of divorce

Question 19

Gendered Expectations in marriage

Answer 19

*mens role of financial and material security
*women expected to be caretakers in relationship

Question 20

Same-Sex Marriage

Answer 20

LGBT elder may have less social support than other elders due to alienation from their families and being less likely to have children. Social support networks of friends are particularly important for them
*Canada was the 4th country to legalize gay marriage in 2005

Question 21

Unmarried older adults

Answer 21

A small proportion of the pop. will never marry. Unmarried older adults rely on the support of people from their kin and friendship networks and levels of support can vary. Usually have less support than married people, but may be more self-reliant and independent.

Question 22

Parent-Child Relationship

Answer 22

Next most important relationship after marriage
*children may share 50 or more years of life with their parents
*permanent and involuntary
*relationships have been linked to psychological and physical well-being
*working class families are more likely to live closer together or live together. Racial and ethnic minorities group members also often have more contact with their parents.

Question 23

Theory of Intergenerational Solidarity: 3 steps

Answer 23

A theory that geographic arrangements will be adjusted over time to reflect the changing needs and resources of different generations.
1. Children live w/ parents until approx. age 25
2. Period of separation as children establish themselves and parents experience empty nest
3. Health and economic needs of parents determine living arrangements

Question 24

What factors influence the level of solidarity and support between generations? 5 factors

Answer 24

*frequency of interaction
*amount of positive sentiment
*level of agreement on values and beliefs
*degree services are exchanged
*geographical proximity

Question 25

critical component of intergenerational relationships: parents

Answer 25

the exchange of emotional support. Help from parents remains high until age 70, then normally they begin to receive more than they give.

Question 26

Filial Piety

Answer 26

respect and care for your parents. In asian countries, intergenerational solidarity is promoted through filial piety. In China and Korea cultures, the eldest son is expected to support his parents, and the daughter-in-law is expected to care for them
*for immigrants, views on filial piety help by older generation may differ

Question 27

Sibling Relationships

Answer 27

provide support to each other, particularly emotional support.
Closeness tends to change over life–close when young, may have less time for each other in adulthood due to work and family, then with age, sibling relationships become more important again.

Question 28

Grandparent-Grandchild Relationships

Answer 28

the # of people with a living grandparent has increased significantly over the 20th century. currently 94% of older adults 75+ are grandparents

Question 29

Key Factors that influence grandparent-grandchild relationships include (3)

Answer 29

*Proximity
*quality of relationship
*grandchildren usually feel closest to their grandmother on maternal side

Question 30

3 common styles of grandparenting that have been identified: R.I.C

Answer 30

remote: relationship is mostly ritualistic and symbolic
involved: take an active role in rearing grandchildren
companionate: focus on friendly relationship and leisure activities

Question 31

Grandparent/Grandchild relationship changes over time:

Answer 31

1) see them most frequently when they were young
2) contact declines as grandchildren become teens
3) relationship becomes closer during adulthood

Question 32

Grandparent/Grandchild relationships and divorce follows one of 3 patterns

Answer 32

*an increase in the bond
*intimacy at a distance with little change
*significant changes influenced by blood, marriage, divorce and remarriage

Question 33

Grandparents raising Grandchildren

Answer 33

over the past 3 decades there has been a small increase in the # of grandparents raising grandchildren
*due to addiction, divorce, teen pregnancy, abuse or abandonment
*Most often this responsibility is taken up by grandmother and is more likely to occur in minority groups

Question 34

Elder Abuse

Answer 34

refers to neglect, financial exploitation, or physical, mental or sexual abuse of older adults. Most often someone close to the older adult
*extent is unclear because it is under reported approx 1-10% worldwide

Question 35

Elder abuse theory: Stressed caregiver hypothesis:

Answer 35

proposes that the abuser is likely to be an under-appreciated and overworked caregiver