In today’s society, where the number of older individuals is steadily increasing, social support provided within one’s social network plays a significant role in achieving a high quality of life in old age. In this thesis, I used a survey to examine who provides the most informal companionship, emotional, informational, and material (instrumental) support to the younger elderly (ages 66–75) and the oldest old (86+). I was particularly interested in the size of each type of support network, respondents’ satisfaction with the support received, and the key differences between the two age groups. The results show that the respondents’ descendants are the most important source of social support, especially among the oldest group, where friendships and partnerships are often absent. Older respondents reported higher levels of satisfaction with the support received, though both groups were least satisfied with emotional support, which is essential for well-being. The survey also showed that respondents had the largest networks for informal companionship, and that older respondents more often reported having larger support networks than their younger counterparts. The results highlight the importance of family within intergenerational relationships as a key factor in providing social support, which helps alleviate the challenges and losses associated with aging.
|
