Abstract: Social support is one of most important factors in predicting the physical health and well-being of everyone, ranging from childhood through ageing years. An individual's social support system comprises of multiple network. These networks are various relationships such as family, relatives, friends and neighbors. Social support becomes significant source of help for ageing people, particularly those living with chronic illnesses and acts as a buffer and alters recovery patterns. The significant social contacts are friends, neighbors and family. Urbanization, modernization and globalization have led to a massive change in the economic structure, erosion of societal values, weakening of social values and social institutions such as the joint family and to some extent marriage and kinship. In this changing economic and social milieu, the graying generation is caught between the declines in traditional values on one hand and the absence of adequate social security system on the other. The social networks help to buffer stress and depression and enhance individual’s morale and well-being. The aim of this study was to analyze the situation of social support in the form of frequency of social interactions and the social functioning. Social functioning, defined as “the ability to maintain and nurture major social relationships”. For the present study the sample comprised of N= 400 ageing adults both males and females, in the age range of 65 to 75years belonging to rural and urban setting of Jaipur district (n = 200 urban, i.e 100=male, 100=female and n = 200 rural i.e. 100= male and 100=female). The result reflected that a high significant difference was found at p<.01 level. Positive social interactions protect against developing difficulties with physical functions in later life. Social networks and social support play cardinal role in the quality of life of older people in societies where formal support and social protection programs are not available.
Keywords: Social Networks, Social Support, Ageing Adults.
Title: Supportive Social Network in Twilight Years
Author: Dr. Shubha Dube, Ms. Kirti Sharma
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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