Social Integration and Mental Health of the Aged

Abstract

This research examines the effects of social integration along with health, age, marital status, and SES on mental health among 1727 urban elderly. Utilizing a path model these variables accounted for 38% of the variance in mental health. In addition to physical health, which had a strong independent effect, both the availability of social resources and their perceived adequacy made significant independent contributions. Social interaction, however, was found to make an insignificant contribution to the explanation of mental health.