How Ageing and Quality of Life is Influenced by Social Relationships: An Exploration of Rural Midlife Women in Ireland

Herbert, Alison

doi:10.5817/soc2018-1-45

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Furthermore, patients have described their relationships as a core resource in the recovery process ( Schön et al, 2009 ), which might encourage them to focus on their social resources more. This is in line with the finding that meaningful relationships may influence how a person experiences their quality of life and how included they feel socially ( Herbert, 2018 ). Consistent with this position, we found that compared to community members, patients reported a greater desire for change in their meaningful relationships.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Meaningful Relationships in Community and Clinical Samples: Their Importance for Mental Health

et al. 2022

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Meaningful relationships are centrally important for human functioning. It remains unclear, however, which aspects of meaningful relationships impact wellbeing the most and whether these differ between psychiatric patients and members of the community. Information about relationship attributes and functions were collected in community members (N = 297) and psychiatric patients (N = 177). Relationship attributes and functions were examined for differences between groups (community vs. patients), their impact on wellbeing and symptoms, and the size of network (one vs. many relationships). Community members reported fewer relationships, higher frequency of contact and less desire for change when compared to the psychiatric patients. Nevertheless, both groups reported relatively high levels of fulfilled functions. Quality of the relationship and investment into the relationship was associated with both wellbeing and symptoms for both the community and the patient group. Almost all functions were associated with wellbeing and symptoms for the community group. However, for the patient group, only few functions (sexual partner, go-to person for compassion, go-to person when happy) were associated with wellbeing and no functions were associated with symptoms. Contrary to our hypotheses, the results show that psychiatric patients do not have a deficit in fulfilling relationships. Most people report a well-functioning network of meaningful, high-quality relationships. Patients benefit from meaningful, function-fulfilling relationships just as much as community members. Results are discussed with respect to how targeting relationships can be used clinically.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Meaningful Relationships in Community and Clinical Samples: Their Importance for Mental Health

et al. 2022

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“…De Koning et al ( 36 ) argue that volunteering, accompanying others and engaging in sports or exercise were associated with lower social isolation from neighbors, family, and friends. These findings are well-supported by a study conduted in Ireland ( 79 ) which noted the intersectionality between social relationships, place, work, health and quality of life among older women.…”

Section: Theme 2 Social Network and Their Impacts On Loneliness Of Ol...supporting

confidence: 66%

Loneliness and social networks of older adults in rural communities: a narrative synthesis systematic review

Hussain

Mirza

Baines

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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IntroductionLoneliness has significant impacts on the health of older adults. Social networks help to improve psychosocial and quality of life outcomes among older adults. A fifth of older adults live in rural communities, where geographic isolation poses challenges to health. The dynamics of social networks of older adults in rural communities has not been explored.ObjectiveTo synthesize the literature related to loneliness and social networks of older adults in rural settings.MethodsA mixed-methods systematic review was conducted through searching six bibliographic databases to retrieve peer-reviewed literature with no time limits. We performed a methodological assessment of each study using a mixed method quality assessment tool. Findings are synthesized thematically.ResultsA total of 50 studies (32 quantitative, 15 qualitative, and 3 mixed methods) were included in this review. Studies were conducted in 17 different countries, the majority from China (n = 12), the UK (n = 9), and USA (n = 9). Findings revealed that social networks of older adults consist of family, friends and neighbors and continue to be developed through participation in various physical and social activities such as walking groups and participation in religious events. Social networks offer informational, functional, psychological and social support to older adults. Through their social networks, older adults feel socially connected and cared for. Successful interventions to improve social networks and address loneliness were those developed in groups or one-on-one with the older adults. The key ingredient to the positive impact of these interventions on reducing social isolation and loneliness was the formation of a social connection and regular engagement with the older adults. However, the review did not find any explicitly reported theory or model on which these interventions are based.ConclusionThe prevalence of loneliness among older adults in rural areas needs urgent attention. Social network theory and methods can help in developing interventions to address social isolation and loneliness among older adults in rural communities.

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“…However, this study extends Jahoda's model by examining the nuances within each of these elements within a gendered, rural context at the mid-life stage of the lifecourse, as well as highlighting additional latent benefits not discussed in Jahoda's model. In general, participants of this study recognised that paid work offered them the opportunity for improved connectivity (Herbert, 2018), augmented personal identity (Biggs, 2005) and financial agency (Bowling, 2018). Specifically, individual latent benefits of employment reported by participants included: self-esteem, self-confidence, antidote to loneliness, life purpose, economic contribution and constructive use of time.…”

Section: Conclusion and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why older rural women in Ireland want to work: it's not all about the money

Herbert

2021

Ageing and Society

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This paper extends our understanding of employment and gendered rural ageing by examining the latent benefits of paid work for mid-life women in rural Ireland. Existing social gerontology literature deals extensively with manifest financial reasons to work, consequences of gendered pay and pension inequalities, work-related health concerns and the negative impacts to an extended working life for women. However, there is much less focus on the latent non-financial positive contributions that work provides for the older woman, especially within a rural context. Findings from this study show how mid-life women, even if in lower-paid, precarious work or in poorer health may choose to continue working into older age. Paid work provides not only financial autonomy, but also temporal structure, life purpose, personal agency, social connectivity and a self-identity that most women are reluctant to relinquish to retirement. Meaningful work plays a critical role in the ageing experience of older rural women. A qualitative study of 25 women aged 45–65 in Connemara, Ireland was undertaken from a lifecourse perspective and analysed using constructivist grounded theory to allow rich, novel narrative to emerge. Narrative from seven, who best represent all participants, are utilised in this paper. Conclusions suggest that the latent benefits of paid work are at least as, if not more important than financial gain for rural mid-life women.

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How Ageing and Quality of Life is Influenced by Social Relationships: An Exploration of Rural Midlife Women in Ireland

Cited by 6 publications

References 55 publications

Meaningful Relationships in Community and Clinical Samples: Their Importance for Mental Health

Meaningful Relationships in Community and Clinical Samples: Their Importance for Mental Health

Loneliness and social networks of older adults in rural communities: a narrative synthesis systematic review

Why older rural women in Ireland want to work: it's not all about the money

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