Abstract

This study identified network types based on multiple indicators reflecting the structure, function, and quality of social relationships, and investigated their associations with mental health in two age-groups. Using 620 South Korean middle-aged and older adults, Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted for both the total sample and for each age-group separately. LPA derived four network types: diverse-supported, family-focused, friend-focused, and restricted. However, for each age group, the prevalence and composition of the network types differed. While controlling for individuals’ demographic information and self-rated health, there were significant differences in terms of mental health among four network types, and an individual’s network type membership was found to be significantly associated with their mental health. Although the associations of network types with mental health were overall similar in both groups, the effect sizes of network type impact on mental health were much greater in older adults than they were in middle-aged adults.

摘要

这项研究根据反映社会关系结构、功能和质量的多项指标确定了网络类型，并调查了它们与两个年龄组心理健康的关联。以 620 名韩国中老年人为对象，对总样本和每个年龄组分别进行了潜在特征分析 (LPA)。LPA 派生出四种网络类型：多样化支持、以家庭为中心、以朋友为中心和受限。然而，对于每个年龄组，网络类型的流行程度和构成有所不同。在控制个体的人口统计信息和自评健康状况的情况下，四种网络类型的心理健康状况存在显着差异，并且发现个体的网络类型成员身份与其心理健康显着相关。尽管网络类型与心理健康的关联在两组中总体相似，但网络类型对心理健康的影响大小在老年人中比在中年人中大得多。