FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIABILITY AMONG ELDERLY, NURSING HOME RESIDENTS.
Contributors: Howard University.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 190
Subjects: Social Work.; Gerontology.
Description: This study, examines the sociability of elderly nursing home residents. It seeks to determine whether there is any significant difference in the way three groups of independent variables affect the sociability of elderly, male nursing home residents, and elderly, female, nursing home residents. The three groups of independent variables are: (1) Relationship with persons outside the nursing home as measured by: (a) Visits by kin; (b) Visits by non-kin; (c) Leave taking by the residents. (2) Health status which is operationalized as: (a) Physical health; (b) Functional health; (c) Duration of stay in the home. (3) Selected demographic variables: (a) Sex; (b) Age; (c) Ethnicity; (d) Education; (e) Income.

The present study will attempt to extend the cumulative knowledge of adjustment to old age. Specifically, it will add to the available literature on the social relationships of the elderly in nursing homes. Another benefit of the study will be the use of the results to improve Planning for the future development of services for the aged as well as the analysis of current programs and care facilities.

It is hypothesized that the residents' sociability varies with their relationships with persons outside the nursing home; their health status; and certain demographic characteristics.

Data are obtained from the Bureau of the Census survey of long-term care facilities in 1976. The sample for the survey was obtained by a proportional, stratified sampling technique. For the specific purpose of this study, 2,090 elderly, nursing home residents, 60 years and over were selected.

Path analysis is the main statistical technique used. After the necessary assumptions are tested for, the data are analyzed for males and then for females.

The model tested for males reveals that the variables that are important to the sociability of elderly, male, nursing home residents are visits by kin, visits by non-kin, functional health, and ethnicity.

The model tested for females indicates that the important variables in the sociability of elderly, female, nursing home residents are leave taking, functional health, age and ethnicity. It is evident, therefore, that the sociability of males and females are affected in different ways.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-10, Section: A, page: 3157.

Thesis (PH.D.)--HOWARD UNIVERSITY, 1988.

School code: 0088.