Social engagement, social networks, and well-being of older adults by gender and marital status

• Main Authors: NGU, Rachel Wen Yi, Tan, Yi Wen, TAN, Yan Er, HIAH, Wei Tin
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2024
• Subjects: Social engagement; social networks; older adults; well-being; gender; Singapore; Asian Studies; Civic and Community Engagement; Gerontology
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/rosa_reports/24; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/rosa_reports/article/1023/viewcontent/Social_engagement_marital_and_gender_research_brief.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

In this research brief, we explore the differences in well-being, social engagement, and social networks amongst groups of married and unmarried male and female older adults and discuss potential policy implications. Our study found that single older adult men fared significantly worse than their married counterparts and single older adult women across different aspects of social well-being, such as social engagement and social support. While this emphasizes the need for increased community efforts to engage men, especially single men, in social activities, specific outreach efforts may be required to better understand their needs and how community programmes can address them.