Published in

Cambridge University Press, Ageing & Society, 7(38), p. 1453-1477, 2017

DOI: 10.1017/s0144686x17000034

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Social support networks of older migrants in England and Wales: the role of collectivist culture

Journal article published in 2017 by Vanessa Burholt, Christine Dobbs, Christina Victor ORCID
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Red circle
Postprint: archiving forbidden
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article tests the fit of a social support network typology developed for collectivist cultures to six migrant populations living in England and Wales. We examine the predictive utility of the typology to identify networks most vulnerable to poor quality of life and loneliness. Variables representing network size, and the proportion of the network classified by gender, age, kin and proximity, were used in confirmatory and exploratory latent profile analysis to fit models to the data (N = 815; Black African, Black Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Chinese). Multinomial logistic regression examined associations between demographic variables and network types. Linear regression examined associations between network types and wellbeing outcomes. A four-profile model was selected.Multigenerational Household: Younger Familynetworks were most robust with lowest levels of loneliness and greatest quality of life.Restricted Non-kinnetworks were least robust.Multigenerational Household: Younger Familynetworks were most prevalent for all but the Black Caribbean migrants. The typology is able to differentiate between networks with multigenerational households and can help identify vulnerable networks. There are implications for forecasting formal services and variation in networks between cultures. The use of a culturally appropriate typology could impact on the credibility of gerontological research.