Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-pjpqr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-26T09:42:36.843Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Adapting to Retirement Community Life: Changes in Social Networks and Perceived Loneliness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2015

Dimity A. Crisp ,
Tim D. Windsor ,
Peter Butterworth  and
Kaarin J. Anstey
Dimity A. Crisp*
Affiliation:
Centre for Applied Psychology, University of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia National Institute for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Tim D. Windsor
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Peter Butterworth
Affiliation:
Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Kaarin J. Anstey
Affiliation:
Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
*
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Dr Dimity Crisp, Centre for Applied Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra ACT 2601, Australia. Email: Dimity.Crisp@canberra.edu.au
Get access

Abstract

Improved social relationships and connectedness is a frequently cited benefit of retirement community living. However, few studies have prospectively investigated changes in loneliness or social networks following relocation. This study involved 83 Australians (aged 57–90 years) relocating to independent living units within a retirement community. A prospective longitudinal design was employed whereby data was collected prior to relocation, and 1, 6 and 12 months post relocation. Comparisons were made with a sample of community-dwelling (N = 549) residents of the same age. Individual characteristics (e.g., personality characteristics) associated with change were also explored. Results indicated reduced loneliness and increased neighbour support networks following relocation. A reduction in contact with friends was also observed. This study provides an important contribution to our understanding of the initial impact of transitioning into a retirement community on personal relationships. Through exploring factors associated with successful transition, we can begin to understand the characteristics of those individuals most likely to thrive in this type of environment.

Keywords

relocation and transitionhousingsocial support
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 6 , 2015 , e9
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2007). Age by sex, Census tables, Census of Population and Housing 2006 (Cat. No. 2068.0). Canberra, Australia: Author. Google Scholar
Antonucci, T.C. (2001). Social relations: An examination of social networks, social support, and sense of control. In Birren, J.E. & Schaie, K.W. (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of aging (5th ed., pp. 427–453). San Diego: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Australian Institute of Health & Welfare. (2003). The Active Australia Survey: A guide and manual for implementation, analysis and reporting. Canberra, Australia: Author..Google Scholar
Bardi, A., & Ryff, C. D. (2007). Interactive effects of traits on adjustment to a life transition. Journal of Personality, 75, 955–983.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bekhet, A.K., Zauszniewski, J.A., & Nakhla, W.E. (2009). Reasons for relocation to retirement communities: A qualitative study. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 31, 462–479.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bolger, N., & Zuckerman, A. (1995). A framework for studying personality in the stress process. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 69, 890–902.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Buys, L., Miller, E., & Barnett, K. (2006). The personal, practical and policy implications of older Australians' residential choice: Impact of retirement village vs. community living on family and formal support. Journal of Housing for the Elderly, 20, 31–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buys, L.R. (2001). Life in a retirement village: Implications for contact with community and village friends. Gerontology, 47, 55–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carstensen, L. L. (1992). Social and emotional patterns in adulthood: Support for socioemotional selectivity theory. Psychology and Aging, 7, 331–338. doi:10.1037/0882–7974.7.3.331 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cherry, K.E., Walker, E. J., Brown, J.S., Volaufova, J., LaMotte, L.R., Welsh, D.A., . . . Frisard, M.I. (2011). Social engagement and health in younger, older, and oldest-old adults in the Louisiana Healthy Aging Study. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 1–25.Google ScholarPubMed
Costa, P.T., & McCrea, R.R. (1992). Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.Google Scholar
Crisp, D.A., Windsor, T.D., Anstey, K.J., & Butterworth, P. (2012). What are older adults seeking? Factors encouaging or discouraging Retirement Village living. Australasian Journal on Ageing. doi:10.1111/j.1741-6612.2012.00623.x Google ScholarPubMed
Digman, J.M. (1990). Personality structure; Emergence of the Five-Factor Model. Annual Reviews in Psychology, 41, 417–440.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fiori, K.L., Antonucci, T.C., & Cortina, K.S. (2006). Social network typologies and mental health among older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 61B, P25–P32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fratiglioni, L., Wang, H., Ericsson, K., Maytan, M., & Winblad, B. (2000). Influence of social network on occurance of dementia: A community-based longitudinal study. The Lancet, 355, 1315–1319.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gardner, I.L. (1996). Why people move to retirement villages: Home owners and non-home owners. Australian Journal on Ageing, 13, 36–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gardner, I.L., Browning, C., & Kendig, H. (2005). Accomodation options in later life: Retirement village or community living. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 24, 188–195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gosling, S.D., Rentfrow, P.J., & Swann, W.B. Jr (2003). A very brief measure of the Big Five personality domains. Journal of Research in Personality, 37, 504–528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hays, R.D. (1998). RAND-36 Health Status Inventory. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
Hedeker, D., & Gibbons, R.D. (2006). Longitudinal data analysis. Hokoben, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Hughes, M.E., Waite, L.J., Hawkley, L.C., & Cacioppo, J.T. (2004). A short scale for measuring loneliness in large surveys: Results from two population-based studies. Research on Aging, 26, 655–672.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Isaacowitz, D.M., & Smith, J. (2003). Positive and negative affect in very old age. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 58B, P143–P152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kalish, Y., & Robins, G. (2006). Psychological predispositions an network structue: The relationship between individual predispositions, structural holes and network closure. Social Networks, 28, 56–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kling, KC., Ryff, C.D., Love, G., & Essex, M. (2003). Exploring the influence of personality on depressive symptoms and self-esteem across a significant life transition. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 85, 922–932.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lachman, M.E., & Weaver, S.L. (1998). The sense of control as a moderator of social class differences in health and well-being. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 74, 763–773.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lansford, J.E., Sherman, A.M., & Antonucci, T. (1998). Satisfaction with social networks: An examination of socioemotional selectivit theory across cohorts. Psychology & Aging, 13, 544–552.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lubben, J., & Gironda, M. (2003). Centrality of social ties to the health and well-being of older adults. In Berkman, B. & Harootyan, L. (Eds.), Social work and health care in an aging society (pp. 319–350). New York: Springer.Google Scholar
McDonald, J. (1996). Community participation in an Australian retirement village. Australian Journal on Ageing, 15, 167–171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Percival, J. (2001). Self-esteem and social motivation in age-segregated settings. Housing Studies, 16, 827–840.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pilkington, P. D., Windsor, T.D., & Crisp, D.A. (2012). Volunteering and subjective well-being in mid-life and older adults: The role of supportive social networks. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 67B, 249–260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pin, S., Guilley, E., Spini, D., & Lalive d'Epinay, C. (2005). The impact of social relationships on the maintenance of independence in advanced old age: Findings of a Swiss longitudinal study. Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie, 38, 203–209.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pressman, S.D., Cohen, S., Miller, G.E., Barkin, A., Rabin, B.S., & Treanor, J.J. (2005). Loneliness, social network size, and immune response to influenza vaccination in college freshman. Health Psychology, 24, 297–306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rossen, E.K., & Knafl, K.A. (2003). Older women's response to residential relocation: Description of transition styles. Qualitiative Health Research, 13, 20–36.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Russell, D.W., Booth, B., Reed, D., & Laughlin, P.R. (1997). Personality, social networks, and perceived social support among alcoholics: A structural equation analysis. Journal of Personality, 65, 650–692.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Savikko, N., Routasalo, P., Tilvis, R.S., Strandberg, T.E., & Pitkälä, K.H. (2005). Predictors and subjective causes of loneliness in an aged population. Archives of Gerontology & Geriatrics, 41, 223–233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schafer, J.L., & Graham, J.W. (2002). Missing data: Our view of the state of the art. Psychological Methods, 7, 147–177.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sergeant, J.F., & Ekerdt, D.J. (2008). Motives for residential mobility in later life: Post-move perspectives of elders and family members. International Journal of Aging & Human Development, 66, 131–154.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smider, N.A., Essex, M.J., & Ryff, C.D. (1996). Adaptation to community relocation: The interactive influence of psychological resources and contextual factors. Psychology & Aging, 11, 362–372.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stevens, N.L., & Van Tilburg, T.G. (2011). Cohort differences in having and retaining friends in personal networks in later life. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28, 24–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stimson, R.J., & McCrea, R. (2004). A push-pull framework for modeling the relocation of retirees to a retirement village: The Australian experience. Environment & Planning A, 36, 1451–1470.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sugihara, S., & Evans, G.W. (2000). Place attachment and social support at Continuing Care Retirement Communities. Environment & Behaviour, 32, 400–409.CrossRefGoogle Scholar