Types of Ego-Centric Social Networks among Urban Older Adults in India

MD SAYED HASAN, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
DR SOMNATH GHOSAL, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

This study aims to develop an empirical typology of social networks among urban-living older Indians and assess their association with socio-demographic and health measures. A sample of 378 older individuals aged 60 years and above was selected from a cross-sectional primary survey using a semi-structured questionnaire in the Kalyani Municipal Area (KMA) of West Bengal, India. Hierarchical and K-means cluster analysis, using twelve criterion variables, revealed five distinct social network types: spouse and children (living together), children (living away from parents), distant family, friend, and other. The most frequent type, named “distant family” (42.32%), was predominated by siblings, cousins, and close relatives (49.54%) in urban India, followed by “children” (28.04%), “friend” (14.81%), and “spouse and children” (8.99%). The less frequent cluster is “other” (5.82%), dominated by neighbours, or even formal helpers (64.77%). Bivariate analysis showed that the family-based networks were comprised of young-old adults who were married, co-residents, had better economic status, and were enjoying healthy lives. On the contrary, the non-family networks comprised the oldest-old adults who were widowed, living alone, financially dependent on others, and had worse health outcomes. The presented network typology compensates for the understanding of social capital among older individuals and may aid practitioners in designing targeted social interventions to support healthy ageing.

Keywords: Social network methods, Older Adults and Intergenerational Relations

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