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Study highlights the impact of social networks on health in older age

Published on: May 12, 2025

A recent study published in Innovation in Aging underscores the powerful role that social networks play in shaping health outcomes among older adults—and points to promising strategies for reducing health disparities in aging populations.

Tracking more than 1,500 older adults over a 10-year period, the research team used data from three waves of the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project. The study was led by Lissette Piedra, professor of social work and Latina/Latino Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and James Iveniuk, senior research scientist at the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center.

The researchers identified three distinct types of social networks: enriched, focused, and restricted. These reflected the degree and diversity of individuals’ social connections as they aged.

Enriched networks, characterized by a wide variety of active relationships, were associated with the highest levels of self-rated health—a key indicator of overall well-being.

Restricted networks, smaller and largely limited to family, were linked to significantly poorer health outcomes.

Focused networks, which provided emotional support but were less diverse, fell somewhere in between.

Participants in restricted networks already reported worse health at the beginning of the study. By the end, those in both the restricted and focused groups showed further health decline compared to the enriched group, although the health gap had narrowed somewhat.

Social isolation and loneliness can severely impact both mental and physical health said Piedra. As people age, their social networks often shrink due to declining health, the loss of loved ones, poverty, discrimination, language barriers, or living in rural or unsafe areas.

The study found that individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups, especially Black and Hispanic older adults, reported higher levels of loneliness. However, one encouraging insight was that some participants were able to expand their networks over time.

Interestingly, despite having smaller networks, those in the focused group reported feeling less lonely than those in the restricted group. This suggests that frequent, meaningful interactions can help counter the effects of limited social reach. The focused group was also the most mobile: over 43% transitioned to enriched networks, while 22% shifted toward more isolated restricted networks during the study.

In contrast, more than 85% of participants who began in restricted networks remained there—underscoring the persistence and vulnerability of this group.

If you start off in a restricted network, it’s very unlikely that you’ll move out of it,” Piedra explained. “And those who are already at risk—such as women and people of color—are more likely to experience shrinking networks as they age.”

The researchers also observed that women, Black participants, and the oldest adults were more likely to shift from enriched to focused networks. Factors like widowhood, limited mobility, transportation barriers, or living in high-crime or rural areas contributed to this contraction.

A key message from the study is that social networks are not static. With the right interventions and opportunities, older adults can cultivate more fulfilling social lives—even in the face of challenges.

That’s the silver lining, Piedra noted. We observed movement into more robust networks across all demographics. That gives us hope. Strong social ties are essential for healthy aging, and loneliness has serious consequences for both cognitive and physical health. Without rich social engagement, the quality of our final years can decline dramatically.

Piedra concluded by emphasizing the importance of targeted public ealth efforts: We need to understand who is most vulnerable and design interventions that help ensure everyone has the chance to age well.

Source: https://news.illinois.edu/study-reveals-how-social-networks-shape-health-in-later-life/

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