Understanding the Role of Social Capital in Formal Service Use Among Older Adults: A Scoping Review
2024
Understanding Social Capital and Service Use in Older Adults
Sample size: 57
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): De Fries Carson, Wang Kaipeng, Hasche Leslie
Primary Institution: University of Denver
Hypothesis
How does an older adult’s social capital influence their use of formal services?
Conclusion
The study found that different types of social relationships affect older adults' access to formal services in nuanced ways.
Supporting Evidence
- 75.4% of the articles used quantitative methods.
- Bonding social capital often provided more therapeutic support.
- Bridging social capital often resulted in more instrumental support.
- The review included a total of 2,645 articles initially.
Takeaway
Older adults with friends may get more emotional support, while those with younger family members might find out about more services they can use.
Methodology
This scoping review analyzed 57 articles, focusing on the methodologies used to study social capital and service use.
Limitations
The review highlighted methodological gaps in assessing older adults’ social relationships.
Participant Demographics
Older adults.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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