Subjective Social Support in Older Male Italian-Born Immigrants in Australia

Abstract

This paper describes differences in subjective social support between older male Italian-born immigrants in Australia and their Australian-born counterparts. Data came from 335 Italian-born and 849 Australian-born men aged 70 years and over who participated in the baseline phase of the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP) in inner suburban Sydney, Australia. Social support was measured using the shortened (11 item) version of the Duke Social Support Index (DSSI). This index measures both social interactions and expressive social support. Logistic regression was used to examine differences in subjective social support between the two groups of men after controlling for other related factors. Italian-born men were about twice as likely to report low subjective social support compared to Australian-born men (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.8, p = 0.0002). This difference remained after adjustment for sociodemographic, socioeconomic, social network and health factors (adjusted OR = 2.1, p = 0.0007). Italian-born men were more likely to report that they had no non-family members in the local area to rely on. However, lack of non-family supports did not remain significantly associated with perceived social support after adjustment for social interactions and depressive symptoms. Italian-born men were more likely to report low subjective support despite the presence of several protective factors such as a greater number of local family supports and a high rate of home ownership.

Depression during the menopause transition: impact on quality of life, social adjustment, and disability

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Making themselves at home: Support needs of older Germans in Australia

“…Differences in expectations and needs are often explained as an outcome of a specific cultural background, when they might rather be linked to individual characteristics and life experiences . Moreover, the potential for increased vulnerability of older migrants should not be taken as a given but should be considered in terms of cultural, migration, social network and socioeconomic factors .…”

“…For example, cultural values located in the country of origin may impact on issues of adjustment and integration in the host country, and migrants' experiences and perceptions of ageing and old age . Recent research on the influence of race, ethnicity, national origin and culture on individual and population ageing confirms the influence of these factors on the ageing experience in later life and ethnic disparities in well‐being .…”

“…, Gifford , Stanaway et al. ). It has been suggested that age at and time since arrival, proficiency in the language of host country and educational background affect the ageing experience of migrants and that ethnicity is not necessarily the most important factor .…”

Functional limitations and life satisfaction dynamics among Asian‐born migrants and Australian‐born participants in the HILDA study

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