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Laura Banks Research Fellow HSPRC, University of Brighton l.c.banks@brighton.ac.uk

A comparative analysis of social networks among older people in Eastern and Western European states. Laura Banks Research Fellow HSPRC, University of Brighton l.c.banks@brighton.ac.uk With Dr Phil Haynes and Professor Michael Hill

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Laura Banks Research Fellow HSPRC, University of Brighton l.c.banks@brighton.ac.uk

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  1. A comparative analysis of social networks among older people in Eastern and Western European states Laura Banks Research Fellow HSPRC, University of Brighton l.c.banks@brighton.ac.uk With Dr Phil Haynes and Professor Michael Hill This work is supported by UK ESRC research grant: RES-000-22-2114

  2. Background to project • Comparing older people’s social networks in 18 countries including 3 Eastern European (and 5 non-European) • Using a 50+ sample from the ISSP 2001 dataset • Key variables include contact with close and extended relatives, friends and social and community groups.

  3. Research Questions • What are the differences in the level of family contact between Western and Eastern Europe? • Which social factors are associated with the differences in family contact? • marital status • household and family size • geographical mobility • other social networks (friends and social participation) • employment • attitudes to caring • national expenditure on care • national prosperity

  4. Frequency of family contact • How often see adult child

  5. % see adult child at least once a week

  6. % see adult child at least once a week

  7. Factor analysis score on contact with close relatives

  8. Close relative factor score

  9. Close relative factor score

  10. % who would turn to spouse first for help when ill r= -0.682 p=0.10

  11. % who would turn to adult child first for help when ill

  12. Relationship between divorce rate (OECD) and family contact r= -0.666 p= 0.013

  13. Household size

  14. Relationship between % living in a 3+ household and family contact r=0.916 p<0.0005

  15. % people living in single person households who see adult child < once a month

  16. Relationship between length of time in locality and family contact r=0.760 p=0.003

  17. Close friends

  18. Relationship between number of close friends and family contact r =-0.623 p =0.023

  19. Social participation

  20. Relationship between social participation and family contact r=-0.844 p<0.0005

  21. Relationship between female labour participation and family contact r= 0.731 p=0.005

  22. Relationship between female labour participation (Eurostat) and family contact r= -0.812 p=0.001

  23. Relationship between attitudes on the ‘duty’ of care and family contact r=0.648 p=0.017

  24. Relationship between public spending on care and family contact r= -0.840 p=0.018

  25. Relationship between % 65+ in ltc institutions and family contact r= -0.784 p= 0.004

  26. Relationship between GDP per head and family contact r= -0.579 p=0.036

  27. Summary In comparison with Western Europe, respondents from Eastern Europe were more likely to: • Have higher levels of family contact • Turn first to an adult child for support when ill (even when controlling for marital status) • Live in larger households and (when controlling for marital status) less likely to live in a single person household, despite having fewer children on average • Have lived in the same town or community for a longer period of time • Report having a smaller number of close friends • Report having lower participation in social and community groups and organisations • Have a lower rate of female labour market participation • Agree with the belief that adult children have a duty to look after their parents in old age • Be living in a country with relatively low GDP per head and low public expenditure on long-term care as a percentage of GDP However, family contact was still significantly higher in Southern Europe

  28. Factors most significantly associated with high family contact • Social participation (r= -0.844) • Length of time in community (r= +0.760) • % of female respondents in employment (r= -0.731) • Public expenditure on long-term care (r= -0.840) • % of 65+ in long-term care institutions (r= -0.784)

  29. A comparative analysis of social networks among older people in Eastern and Western European states Laura Banks Research Fellow HSPRC, University of Brighton l.c.banks@brighton.ac.uk With Dr Phil Haynes and Professor Michael Hill This work is supported by UK ESRC research grant: RES-000-22-2114

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