Chloe Perkins
214137748
HPS302
Assignment 1 – Literature Review
Deakin University
Social relationships can be defined as having a network of associates, maintaining contact with others, experiencing social support, and enjoying a resource of social capital (Cooper & Bebbington & Livingstone, 2011). Social relationships are a key element of happiness and wellbeing and have major effects on health over the life course (Antonucci & Ajrouch & Birditt, 2014). Happiness and wellbeing can be used in association with life satisfaction. The aim of this review was to explore the influence of social relationships on personal happiness and wellbeing of older adults. A review of the literature explores the impact social relationships have on an individual’s happiness, the impact that social participation has on happiness and wellbeing, as well as the negative effects associated with a lack of social relationships and social isolation. The socio-emotional selectivity theory relates to how older adults are focused on meaningful existing relationships, and are less focused on generating new relationships (Robertson & Hopko, 2013). …show more content…
This theory is incorporated into this review.
Evidence from various sources has shown how an individual’s happiness and wellbeing is influenced by social relationships. It has been found that elderly individuals usually maintain smaller social network connections compared with younger individuals, and that they traditionally rely on family members for support (Chang & Hsu, 2015). In the elderly, a lot of individuals are dealing will illness and functional limitations, and it is important for them to have strong relationships to help them cope with this (Sintonen & Pehkonen, 2014). It has been found that strong bonds are based on communication, emotional intensity and mutual trust. These bonds are important sources of social support and are important when helping an individual when they are confronted with challenges. This in turn has an impact on an individual’s wellbeing (Sintonen & Pehkonen, 2014). Literature finds that emotional support has been found to be a main factor relating to the happiness of an individual. Emotional support has been found to be higher correlated with happiness, when compared to instrumental care such as caregiving (Chang & Hsu, 2015). In elders it has been found that the quality of social interactions is more important than the quantity of relationships (Chang & Hsu, 2015). Literature finds they are more likely to prioritize emotionally meaningful relationships over acquaintances (Cartenson & Fung & Charles, 2003). This relates to the socio-emotional selectivity theory, as the theory states how older adults are more focused on being attentive to existing meaningful relationships, and are less focused on developing new relationships (Robertson & Hopko, 2013). This is found to be due to them having perceived limitations on time, and this directs their attention to meaningful relationships (Cartenson et al., 2003). Increased attention to goals such as meaningful relationships has been found to result in greater emotional experiences, as well as better regulation of emotions (Cartenson et al., 2003). It has also been found that older adults derive greater happiness from experiences with close social partners, when compared with others (Cartenson et al., 2003). In person interaction is perceived as being more supportive, and has been related to a lower probability of depressive symptoms (Teo & Choi & Andrea & Valenstein & Newsom & Dobscha & Zivin, 2015). A limitation of social relations on wellbeing include personal characteristics, as it has been found that factors including socioeconomic status, ethnicity and gender have variations on how social relations can vary. An example of this is because some ethnicities are more family based (Antonucci et al., 2014). Social relations can also be understood from different perspectives depending on the individual, and can be understood subjectively (Antonucci et al., 2014) Social participation and engaging in the community has been found to have an impact on the happiness and wellbeing of older adults. Research has found that more elders are interested in social participation activities than in previous generations (Chang & Hsu, 2015). It has been found that happiness from social participation reduces with age, however it has still been correlated that those who do engage in social participation had a higher level of happiness than elders who do not (Chang & Hsu, 2015). It has been found that social participation has caused increases in personal dignity, connections with a social network, as
214137748
HPS302
Assignment 1 – Literature Review
Deakin University
Social relationships can be defined as having a network of associates, maintaining contact with others, experiencing social support, and enjoying a resource of social capital (Cooper & Bebbington & Livingstone, 2011). Social relationships are a key element of happiness and wellbeing and have major effects on health over the life course (Antonucci & Ajrouch & Birditt, 2014). Happiness and wellbeing can be used in association with life satisfaction. The aim of this review was to explore the influence of social relationships on personal happiness and wellbeing of older adults. A review of the literature explores the impact social relationships have on an individual’s happiness, the impact that social participation has on happiness and wellbeing, as well as the negative effects associated with a lack of social relationships and social isolation. The socio-emotional selectivity theory relates to how older adults are focused on meaningful existing relationships, and are less focused on generating new relationships (Robertson & Hopko, 2013). …show more content…
This theory is incorporated into this review.
Evidence from various sources has shown how an individual’s happiness and wellbeing is influenced by social relationships. It has been found that elderly individuals usually maintain smaller social network connections compared with younger individuals, and that they traditionally rely on family members for support (Chang & Hsu, 2015). In the elderly, a lot of individuals are dealing will illness and functional limitations, and it is important for them to have strong relationships to help them cope with this (Sintonen & Pehkonen, 2014). It has been found that strong bonds are based on communication, emotional intensity and mutual trust. These bonds are important sources of social support and are important when helping an individual when they are confronted with challenges. This in turn has an impact on an individual’s wellbeing (Sintonen & Pehkonen, 2014). Literature finds that emotional support has been found to be a main factor relating to the happiness of an individual. Emotional support has been found to be higher correlated with happiness, when compared to instrumental care such as caregiving (Chang & Hsu, 2015). In elders it has been found that the quality of social interactions is more important than the quantity of relationships (Chang & Hsu, 2015). Literature finds they are more likely to prioritize emotionally meaningful relationships over acquaintances (Cartenson & Fung & Charles, 2003). This relates to the socio-emotional selectivity theory, as the theory states how older adults are more focused on being attentive to existing meaningful relationships, and are less focused on developing new relationships (Robertson & Hopko, 2013). This is found to be due to them having perceived limitations on time, and this directs their attention to meaningful relationships (Cartenson et al., 2003). Increased attention to goals such as meaningful relationships has been found to result in greater emotional experiences, as well as better regulation of emotions (Cartenson et al., 2003). It has also been found that older adults derive greater happiness from experiences with close social partners, when compared with others (Cartenson et al., 2003). In person interaction is perceived as being more supportive, and has been related to a lower probability of depressive symptoms (Teo & Choi & Andrea & Valenstein & Newsom & Dobscha & Zivin, 2015). A limitation of social relations on wellbeing include personal characteristics, as it has been found that factors including socioeconomic status, ethnicity and gender have variations on how social relations can vary. An example of this is because some ethnicities are more family based (Antonucci et al., 2014). Social relations can also be understood from different perspectives depending on the individual, and can be understood subjectively (Antonucci et al., 2014) Social participation and engaging in the community has been found to have an impact on the happiness and wellbeing of older adults. Research has found that more elders are interested in social participation activities than in previous generations (Chang & Hsu, 2015). It has been found that happiness from social participation reduces with age, however it has still been correlated that those who do engage in social participation had a higher level of happiness than elders who do not (Chang & Hsu, 2015). It has been found that social participation has caused increases in personal dignity, connections with a social network, as