Abstract
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Background
Social networks are important for promoting and maintaining health and well-being. Social networks, including family and friendship ties, are sources of emotional, practical and other support that enhance social participation and help combat isolation and loneliness. Aboriginal seniors have been identified as a population at risk of social isolation.
Data and methods
The data are from the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey, a national survey of First Nations people living off reserve, Métis, and Inuit. Frequencies, cross-tabulations, and logistic regression models were used to look at family networks and self-perceived general and mental health among Métis aged 45 or older.
Results
An estimated 48% of Métis men and 60% of Métis women aged 45 or older had strong family networks. Older age, lower education, and non-participation in the labour force were associated with strong networks. Métis men and women with strong family networks had higher odds than did those with weak networks of reporting positive mental health, even when potential confounders were taken into account. Among Métis men, a relationship between strong family networks and positive general health was also observed.
Interpretation
Strong family networks are associated with positive self-perceived general and mental health among Métis adults. In addition to individual behaviours, family well-being is important for general health promotion.
Keywords
Aging, community belonging, elderly, exclusion, loneliness, social isolation
Findings
The importance of social networks for promoting health and well-being is well-established. These networks, which include family and friendship ties, provide emotional, practical and other support; enhance social participation and engagement; and help combat isolation and loneliness. [Full Text]
Authors
Pamela L. Ramage-Morin (Pamela.Ramage-Morin@canada.ca) and Evelyne Bougie (Evelyne.Bougie@canada.ca) are with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6.
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What is already known on this subject?
- Social networks, including family ties, are sources of emotional, practical and other support that enhance social participation and help combat isolation and loneliness.
- Aboriginal seniors have been identified as a population at risk of social isolation.
- Métis comprise about a third of the Aboriginal population in Canada, but Métis-specific research is relatively scarce.
What does this study add?
- Data from the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey were used to examine family networks and associations with self-perceived general and mental health among Métis aged 45 or older.
- More than half (54%) of Métis had strong family networks, defined as very strong ties to family members in the same community, and at least one relative to turn to in times of need.
- Older age, lower education, and non-participation in the labour force were associated with having strong family networks.
- Métis men and women with strong family networks had higher odds than did those with weak networks of reporting positive mental health, even when potential confounders were taken into account.
- Among Métis men, an association between strong family networks and positive general health was also observed.
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