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Understanding the friendship networks of older Black and Minority Ethnic people living in the United Kingdom

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 January 2020

Brenda Hayanga Open the ORCID record for Brenda Hayanga [Opens in a new window] ,
Dylan Kneale Open the ORCID record for Dylan Kneale [Opens in a new window]  and
Ann Phoenix
Brenda Hayanga*
Affiliation:
Department of Social Science, UCL Institute of Education, London, UK
Dylan Kneale
Affiliation:
Department of Social Science, UCL Institute of Education, London, UK
Ann Phoenix
Affiliation:
Department of Social Science, UCL Institute of Education, London, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Email: brenda.hayanga.14@ucl.ac.uk
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Abstract

Older Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) people living in the United Kingdom (UK) are vulnerable to the experiences of social isolation and loneliness. Despite this, it is widely assumed that they adhere to traditional family practices and living arrangements that protect them from social isolation and loneliness. Such assumptions are problematic and can reify family networks as the main area of research for older BME people to the detriment of friendship networks which are also crucial. However, few researchers have explored this area. With the older BME population increasing at a faster rate than the older white population, further research is needed. Utilising data from Wave 6 of Understanding Society (N = 7,499, 4.3% of whom self-identified as BME), this study explores the ways in which the friendship networks of older BME people differ compared to older white people using logistic regression analyses. After controlling for potential confounding socio-demographic characteristics, older BME people were more likely to report having fewer close friends and fewer friends who live locally, suggesting that their friendship networks may be restricted in quantity and accessibility. Not only do these findings raise important questions about the varying needs of older minority ethnic people who have been largely overlooked in recent government policy, but they also highlight the continuing challenges of using large-scale surveys to research older BME people in the UK.

Keywords

ageingBlack and Minority Ethnic (BME)ethnicityfriendssocial isolationloneliness
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 41 , Issue 7 , July 2021 , pp. 1521 - 1540
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020

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