OLDER ADULTS EXPOSED TO MISSILE ATTACKS IN ISRAEL AND THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF THEIR PERSONAL SOCIAL NETWORKS

The current study examined the social networks of older adults as moderators of poor health due to traumatic events in the context of warfare. The study used data from the Israeli component of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, N = 1,623), collected in 2015. It employed a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Innovation in aging 2018-11, Vol.2 (suppl_1), p.46-46
Main Authors: Schwartz, E, Shrira, A, Litwin, H
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The current study examined the social networks of older adults as moderators of poor health due to traumatic events in the context of warfare. The study used data from the Israeli component of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, N = 1,623), collected in 2015. It employed a composite scale of social connectedness and information on exposure to traumatic events during the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict and subsequent PTSD symptoms. Social connectedness and trauma exposure were used to predict several health indicators. The results show that while both trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms were related to worse health, social connectedness moderated this association. Highly connected persons did not suffer from worse health in the context of trauma. This trend was found for physical, cognitive and mental health as well as for health behaviors, highlighting the protective role of social networks in a wide range of health domains.
ISSN:2399-5300
2399-5300
DOI:10.1093/geroni/igy023.171