Title: SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS, PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND HEALTH AMONG OLDER ADULTS
Abstract: Previous research documents a range of dimensions of social connectedness and perceived social support that are considered to have impact on health. However, these dimensions have rarely been studied together, making it difficult to determine which aspects of social connectedness and social support are most beneficial to health. Using data from the Utah Fertility, Longevity and Aging study, this study examines the extent to which dimensions of social connectedness (network size, and satisfaction with network), and perceived social support (affective, confidant, and instrumental) have distinct associations with physical and mental health among older adults. Participants involved 325 older adults, aged 50 years and older. Results showed higher scores on satisfaction with network dimension of social connectedness correlated with higher physical and mental health scores. Similarly, higher score on affective, confidant, and instrumental support correlated with higher physical and mental health scores. After controlling for the effects of socio-demographic variables, affective, and instrumental support, and satisfaction with network were significant predictors of physical and mental health. Other correlates of physical and mental health included age, gender, and socio-economic-status. The aggregate scales of social connectedness and perceived social support were independently associated with self-rated physical and mental health. Strong, positive correlations were, however, found between perceived social support and self-rated physical and mental health. The findings suggest perceived social support might be relatively more important to the health and mental wellbeing of older adults than social connectedness, underscoring the relative importance older adults attach to quality rather than quantity of social ties.