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European Older Adults’ Social Activity Networks in National Context: A Cross-National Exploration of National Cultural, Policy, and Economic Characteristics

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Aging in European Societies

Part of the book series: International Perspectives on Aging ((Int. Perspect. Aging,volume 6))

Abstract

Previous sociological and gerontological research documents the benefits of social ties for older adults. By integrating literature on linked lives, activity theory, and social networks, I suggest the concept of a “social activity network” (SAN), which is a broad network composed of activity-related ties and family network ties. Studies of older adults’ social activity networks cross-nationally reveal regional and national differences. Scholars suggest that variation in older adults’ ties may reflect cultural, economic, and policy differences between nations. Few studies, however, specifically examine the potential contextualizing role of national culture and economy/policy using empirical cross-national measures. In this chapter, I combine data from six sources including the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), World Values Survey (WVS), European Values Study (EVS), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), World Bank (WB), and United Nations (UN). Utilizing this unique combination of data, I empirically document cross-national patterns in European older adults’ social activity networks and discuss broadly the potential of such publicly available national measures for the study of European older adults’ social lives in multiple contexts.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    This paper uses data from SHARELIFE release 1, as of November 24, 2010 or SHARE release 2.3.1, as of July 29, 2010. The SHARE data collection has been primarily funded by the European Commission through the 5th framework program (project QLK6-CT-2001–00360 in the thematic programme Quality of Life), through the 6th framework programme (projects SHARE-I3, RII-CT- 2006–062193, COMPARE, CIT5-CT-2005–028857, and SHARELIFE, CIT4-CT-2006–028812), and through the 7th framework programme (SHARE-PREP, 211909 and SHARE-LEAP, 227822). Additional funding from the US National Institute on Aging (U01 AG09740–13S2, P01 AG005842, P01 AG08291, P30 AG12815, Y1-AG-4553–01 and OGHA 04–064, IAG BSR06–11, R21 AG025169) as well as from various national sources is gratefully acknowledged (see www.share-project.org/t3/share/index.php for a full list of funding institutions).

  2. 2.

    The World Values Survey provides a measure of family importance (“How important is family in life?”), but there is very little cross-national variation in this measure—approximately 90 % of individuals in Europe describe family as “very important.” Thus, it is unlikely that this item captures the observed regional differences in familism in Europe.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Public Policy Building, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Christine A. Mair

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  1. Christine A. Mair
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Correspondence to Christine A. Mair .

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  1. University of Nicosia, Vosporou 23, Nicosia, 2370, Cyprus

    Constantinos Phellas

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Mair, C. (2013). European Older Adults’ Social Activity Networks in National Context: A Cross-National Exploration of National Cultural, Policy, and Economic Characteristics. In: Phellas, C. (eds) Aging in European Societies. International Perspectives on Aging, vol 6. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8345-9_5

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