Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Perceived Social Support of Older Adults in Spain

  • Published:
Applied Research in Quality of Life Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on theory, perceived social support is a relevant multidimensional factor for the wellbeing and quality of life of older adults. However, not all measuring instruments are able to identify this multidimensionality in every population. In this sense, the objectives of this paper are: 1) to identify the dimensions underlying the social support perceived by older adults in Spain, using the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire (DUFSS); 2) to interpret how this population group rates the support it receives in the dimensions found; and 3) to determine the (fundamentally dynamic or stable) nature of the relationship between these dimensions and socio-demographic, personal, and family and friendship network-related factors. The data come from a Quality of Life survey conducted in 2008 among people aged 60 or over living in a community dwelling in Spain. The sample comprised 1106 individuals. The analysis of the dimensionality using the DUFSS scale through an exploratory factor analysis identified a sole dimension for this specific population, perceived affective support. The affective support perceived by 35% of older adults could be categorized as insufficient, according to the descriptive statistics of this scale and their reflection in the average level of loneliness measured by the De Jong Gierveld short loneliness scale (ANOVA Analysis). Standard multiple regression analysis suggests that the perception of affective support by older adults in Spain does not vary substantially depending on the factors analysed. The results offer signs that support the studies that defend the mainly stable nature of social perceived social support.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abellán García, A., Puga González, M. D., & Sancho Castiello, M. (2006). Mayores y familia en la sociedad actual. In F. Encuentro (Ed.), Informe España 2006: Una interpretación de su realidad (pp. 235–265). Madrid: Fundación Encuentro.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed Mohamed, K., Rojo Pérez, F., Fernández-Mayoralas, G., Prieto Flores, M. E., Rodríguez Rodríguez, V., & Lardiés Bosque, R. (2009). Red familiar y distancia afectiva en la calidad de vida de la población mayor. In L. L. Trigal & A. Abellán García (Eds.), Despoblación, envejecimiento y territorio: un análisis sobre la población española (pp. 375–386). León: Universidad de León.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonucci, T. C., Fiori, K. L., Birditt, K., & Jackey, L. M. H. (2010). Convoys of social relations: Integrating life-span and life-course perspectives. In R. Blieszner & V. H. Bedford (Eds.), The handbook of life-span development (pp. 355–372). Westport: Greenwood Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrera, M. (1988). Models of social support and life stress. In L. H. Cohen (Ed.), Life events and psychological functioning. Theoretical and methodological issues (pp. 211–236). Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, A. E. (1999). Social support and life satisfaction among the never married: examining the effects of age. Research on Aging, 21(1), 46–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellón, J. A., Delgado, A., Luna, J., & Lardelli, P. (1996). Validez y fiabilidad del cuestionario de apoyo social funcional Duke-UNC-11. Atención Primaria, 18(4), 153–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blieszner, R., & Adams, R. G. (Eds.). (1992). Adult friendship. Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolger, N., Zuckerman, A., & Kessler, R. C. (2000). Invisible support and adjustment to stress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79(6), 953–961.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadhead, W. E., Gehlbach, S. H., de Gruy, F. V., & Kaplan, B. H. (1988). The Duke-UNC functional social support questionnaire: measurement of social support in family medicine patients. Medical Care, 26(7), 709–723.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carretero-Dios, H., & Pérez, C. (2005). Normas para el desarrollo y revisión de estudios instrumentales. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 5(3), 521–551.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobb, S. (1976). Social support as a moderator of life stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 38, 300–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coventry, W. L., Gillespie, N. A., Heath, A. C., & Martin, N. G. (2004). Perceived social support in a large community sample. Age and sex differences. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 39(8), 625–636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crowne, D. P., & Marlowe, D. (1960). A new scale of social desirability independent of psychopathology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 24, 349–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cumming, E., & Henry, W. H. (1961). Growing old: the process of disengagement. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daatland, S. O., & Lowenstein, A. (2005). Intergenerational solidarity and the family-welfare state balance. European Journal of Ageing, 2(3), 174–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Jong Gierveld, J., & Van Tilburg, T. (2006). A 6-item scale for overall, emotional, and social loneliness: confirmatory test on survey data. Research on Aging, 28(5), 582–598.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De la Revilla, L., Bailón, E., Luna, J., Delgado, A., Prados, M. A., & Fleitas, L. (1991). Validación de una escala de apoyo social funcional para su uso en la consulta del médico de familia. Atención Primaria, 8, 688–692.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dijkstra, W., Smit, J. H., & Comijs, H. C. (2001). Using social desirability scales in research among the elderly. Quality and Quantity, 35(1), 107–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Ballesteros, R. (2002). Social support and quality of life among older people in Spain. Journal of Social Issues, 58(4), 645–659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Mayoralas, G., Frades Payo, B., Martínez Martín, P., García Izaguirre, C., Prieto Flores, M. E., León Salas, B., Forjaz M. J., & Rojo Pérez, F. (2007). El significado de la salud en la calidad de vida de los mayores. Retrieved from http://www.imsersomayores.csic.es/documentos/documentos/fernandezmayoralas-significado-01.pdf.

  • Fernandez-Mayoralas, G., Giraldez-Garcia, C., Forjaz, M. J., Rojo-Perez, F., Martinez-Martin, P., & On behalf of the Spanish Research Group on Quality of Life and Ageing. (2012). Design, measures and sample characteristics of the CadeViMa-Spain survey on quality of life in community-dwelling older adults. International Psychogeriatrics, 24(03), 343–512.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrara, M. (1995). Los Estados del Bienestar del sur en la Europa Social. In L. Moreno & S. Sarasa Urdiola (Eds.), El Estado de Bienestar en la Europa del Sur (pp. 85–112). Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furukawa, T. A., & Shibayama, T. (1997). Intra-individual versus extra individual components of social support. Psychological Medicine, 27(5), 1183–1191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gadalla, T. M. (2009). Sense of mastery, social support, and health in elderly Canadians. Journal of Aging and Health, 21(4), 581–595.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser, K., Tomassini, C., & Grundy, E. (2004). Revisiting convergence and divergence: support for older people in Europe. European Journal of Ageing, 1(1), 64–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gracia, E., & Herrero, J. (2004). Personal and situational determinants of relationship specific perceptions of social support. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, 32(5), 459–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gubrium, J. F. (1974). Marital desolation and the evaluation of everyday life in old age. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 36, 107–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gubrium, J. F. (1975). Being single in old age. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 6, 29–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gubrium, J. F., & Holstein, J. A. (1999). Constructionist perspectives on aging. In V. L. Bengston & K. V. Schaie (Eds.), Handbook of theories of aging (pp. 287–306). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hair, J. F., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W. C. (1999). Análisis multivariante (5ªth ed.). Madrid: Prentice Hall Iberia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Instituto Nacional de Estadística (2007). INEbase Padrón Municipal: Cifras Oficiales de Población a 1 de enero de 2007. Retrieved from http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=%2Ft20%2Fe260&file=inebase&L=0

  • Kaul, M., & Lakey, B. (2003). Where is the support in perceived support? The role of generic relationship satisfaction and enacted support in perceived support’s relation to low distress. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 22(1), 59–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (1999). Assessing change in social support during late life. Research on Aging, 21(4), 539–569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, M. A., & Rook, K. S. (1999). Social control in personal relationships: Impact on health behaviours and psychological distress. Health Psychology, 18(1), 63–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, N. (1986). Modeling the effects of social support. In N. Lin, A. Dean, & W. Ensel (Eds.), Social support, life events, and depression (pp. 173–212). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meil Landwerlin, G. (2003). La figura del abuelo en las familias españolas de la actualidad. Portularia. Revista de Trabajo Social, 3(1), 33–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moss, G. E. (1973). Illness, immunity, and social interaction. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulder, C. H., & van der Meer, M. J. (2009). Geographical distances and support from family members. Population, Space and Place, 15(4), 381–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newcomb, M. D. (1990). Social support and personal characteristics: a developmental and interactional perspective. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 9(1), 54–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nezlek, J. B. (2001). The motivational and cognitive dynamics of day-to-day social life. In J. P. Forgas, K. Williams, & L. Wheeler (Eds.), The social mind: Cognitive and motivational aspects of interpersonal behaviour (pp. 92–114). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, F. H., & Kaniasty, K. (1996). Received and perceived social support in times of stress: a test of the social support deterioration deterrence model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71(3), 498–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfeiffer, E. (1975). A short portable mental status questionnaire for the assessment of organic brain deficit in elderly patients. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 23(10), 433–441.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierce, G. R., Sarason, B. R., & Sarason, I. G. (1992). General and specific suppport expectations and stress as predictors of perceived supportiveness: an experimental study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(2), 297–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pierce, G. R., Lakey, B., Sarason, I. G., Sarason, B. R., & Joseph, H. J. (1997). Personality and social support processes: A conceptual overview. In G. R. Pierce, B. Lakey, I. G. Sarason, & B. R. Sarason (Eds.), Sourcebook of social support and personality (pp. 3–18). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prieto Flores, M. E. (2008). La experiencia subjetiva de la salud en la valoración de la Calidad de Vida de los mayores de la Comunidad de Madrid. Dissertation, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

  • Prieto-Flores, M. E., Fernández-Mayoralas, G., Rojo-Pérez, F., Lardiés-Bosque, R., Rodríguez-Rodríguez, V., Ahmed-Mohamed, K., & Rojo-Abuín, J. M. (2008). Factores sociodemográficos y de salud en el bienestar emocional como dominio de la Calidad de Vida de los mayores en la Comunidad de Madrid, 2005. Revista Española de Salud Pública, 82(3), 301–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reblin, M., & Uchino, B. N. (2008). Social and affective support and its implication for health. Current Opinions in Psychiatry, 21(2), 201–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reinhardt, J. P., Boerner, K., & Horowitz, A. (2006). Good to have but not to use: differential impact of perceived and received support on well-being. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 23(1), 117–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rojo-Pérez, F., Delgado-Sanz, C., Fernández-Mayoralas, G., Forjaz, M. J., Ahmed-Mohamed, K., Martínez-Martín, P., Prieto-Flores, M. E., & Rojo-Abuin, J. M. (2009a). Informal support according to level of competence related to health and functioning in Quality of Later Life. In W. Ostasiewicz (Ed.), Quality of life improvement through social cohesion (pp. 64–85). Wroclaw: Publishing House of Wroclaw University of Economics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rojo-Pérez, F., Fernández-Mayoralas, G., Forjaz, M. J., Delgado-Sanz, M. C., Ahmed-Mohamed, K., Martínez-Martín, P., Prieto-Flores, M. E., & Rojo-Abuín, J. M. (2009b). Población mayor, Calidad de Vida y redes de apoyo: Demanda y prestación de cuidados en el seno familiar. Madrid: Escuela Nacional de Sanidad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III–Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. Retrieved from http://www.isciii.es/htdocs/publicaciones/documentos/Poblacion_mayor.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rook, K. S., & Schuster, T. L. (1996). Compensatory processes in the social networks of older adults. In G. R. Pierce, B. R. Sarason, & I. G. Sarason (Eds.), Handbook of social support and the family (pp. 219–248). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenmayr, L. (1968). Family relations of the elderly. Journal of Marriage and Family, 30(4), 672–679.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1998). Successful aging. New York: Panteón.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarason, I. G., & Sarason, B. R. (2009). Social support: mapping the construct. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 26(1), 113–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarason, I. G., Levine, H. M., Basham, R. B., & Sarason, B. R. (1983). Assessing social support: the Social Support Questionnaire. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44(1), 127–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shanas, E. (1979). The family as a social support system in old age. The Gerontologist, 19(2), 169–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, Z., Mikulincer, M., & Avitzur, E. (1988). Coping, locus of control, social support, and combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a prospective study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55(2), 279–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Terol Cantero, M., López Roig, S., Neipp, M., Rodríguez Rodríguez, J., Pastor, M., & Martín-Aragón Gelabert, M. (2004). Apoyo social e instrumentos de evaluación: revisión y clasificación. Anuario de Psicología, 35(1), 23–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, B. (1999). If statistical significance tests are broken/misused, what practices should supplement or replace them? Theory and Psychology, 9(2), 165–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vangelisti, A. L. (2009). Challenges in conceptualizing social support. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 26(1), 39–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vaux, A. (1988). Social support: Theory, research, and intervention. New York: Praeger Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaux, A. (1990). An ecological approach to understanding and facilitating social support. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 7(4), 507–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Victor, C., Scambler, S., & Bond, J. (2009). The social world of older people. Understanding loneliness and social isolation in later life. Maidenhead: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2002).Active ageing: A policy framework. Retrieved from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2002/WHO_NMH_NPH_02.8.pdf

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science & Innovation (National R + D + i Plan; Refs.: SEJ2006-15122-C02-01 and SEJ2006-15122-C02-02).

The first author’s current position is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science & Innovation through a PhD scholarship (Ref.: BES-2007-14836).

The Spanish Research Group on Quality of Life and Ageing is composed by:

- At the Spanish National Research Council: G. Fernandez-Mayoralas; F. Rojo-Perez; K. Ahmed-Mohamed. Address: C/ Albasanz, 26–28; 28037 Madrid, Spain.

- At the Carlos III Institute of Health: M. J. Forjaz; M. E. Prieto-Flores; C. Rodriguez-Blazquez; C. Delgado-Sanz. Address: Avda. Monforte de Lemos, 5; 28029 Madrid, Spain.

- At the Alzheimer Disease Research Unit, CIEN Foundation-Carlos III Institute of Health, Alzheimer Center Reina Sofia Foundation: P. Martinez-Martin; B. Frades-Payo. Address: C/ Valderrebollo, 5 - 28031 - Madrid, Spain.

- At the University of Zaragoza: R. Lardies-Bosque. Address: C/ Pedro Cerbuna, 12; 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Economics, Geography and Demography, Centre for Human and Social Sciences, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain

    Karim Ahmed-Mohamed, Gloria Fernandez-Mayoralas & Fermina Rojo-Perez

  2. National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain

    Maria João Forjaz

  3. Alzheimer Disease Research Unit, CIEN Foundation-Carlos III Institute of Health, Alzheimer Center Reina Sofia Foundation, Madrid, Spain

    Pablo Martinez-Martin

Authors
  1. Karim Ahmed-Mohamed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gloria Fernandez-Mayoralas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fermina Rojo-Perez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Maria João Forjaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Pablo Martinez-Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Consortia

On behalf of the Spanish Research Group on Quality of Life and Ageing

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karim Ahmed-Mohamed.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ahmed-Mohamed, K., Fernandez-Mayoralas, G., Rojo-Perez, F. et al. Perceived Social Support of Older Adults in Spain. Applied Research Quality Life 8, 183–200 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-012-9184-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-012-9184-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation