An Examination of Sex Differences in the Structure of Social Networks and in the Availability of Social Support for the Elderly

要旨

This paper is designed to empirically investigate sex differences in the structure of social networks and the availability of social support amongst the elderly. The data are taken from two surveys of elderly people in Okayama City, Japan. The elderly persons sampled consisted of 133 men and 61 women ranging in age from 65 to 79 who are married and do not live with their children. The analyses revealed the following five points.(1) More men included their spouse in their social networks than women. While men had more workmate relationships than women, the latter maintained more neighbourhood relationships than the former.(2) There were no sex differences in the spatial distribution of the social networks. Both men and women had most of their social relationships in their own neighbourhood or in Okayama City. However, both sexes had some kinship relationships outside the city.(3) There was no sex difference in the size of the social networks.(4) While spouse and relatives were overwhelmingly important sources of support for both men and women, neighbours, friends and workmates played an important role in providing support to them only in some limited situations. More men reported receiving support from their spouse and workmates than women. Particularly, a remarkably higher proportion of men reported receiving care from their spouse when they were hospitalised. In contrast, more women were likely to rely on relatives and neighbours than men.(5) More women reported that they would talk to someone about their worries than men. Conversely, more men reported that they would talk to someone about their work than women, because a higher proportion of men had paid employment.

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