Browsing by Author "Bakhshandeh Bavarsad M"

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    Neighborhood Qualities Are Related to Better Mental Health, Quality of Life, and Loneliness Over 6 Years: Pathways Through Social Engagement and Social Support to Aging Well
    (Oxford University Press on behalf of the Gerontological Society of America, 2025-06) Stephens C; Bakhshandeh Bavarsad M; Castle NG
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Growing research evidence supports the importance of neighbourhoods for the wellbeing of older people. The aim of this study was to investigate key pathways (social engagement and social support) through which neighbourhood qualities (accessibility, safety, and social cohesion) may affect older people's mental wellbeing (mental health, quality of life, and loneliness) over 6 years. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A structural equation model was used to test the model while controlling for individual limitations such as physical health and SES. The population sample included 2750 New Zealanders over the age of 55 (M = 65.64 ± 6.30) years who responded to Health, Work and Retirement (HWR) longitudinal surveys in 2016 and 2022. RESULTS: The results showed that greater neighbourhood accessibility to important facilities in 2016 predicted better mental health and quality of life and less loneliness in 2022 through provision of social support. Neighbourhood social cohesion predicted social engagement, which was related to higher social support predicting better mental health and quality of life and less loneliness in 2022. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings confirm a body of research highlighting the importance of neighbourhood qualities and show the socially oriented pathways through which neighbourhoods support ageing well. These findings have direct implications for the development of social policy that focuses on the development of housing situations to support healthy ageing.
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    Social network type contributes to purpose in life among older people, mediated by social support.
    (Springer Nature, 2024-01-17) Bakhshandeh Bavarsad M; Stephens C; Glaser K
    A sense of Purpose in Life is an important aspect of ageing well which is related to older adult's social relationships. Social network types and the different sources of support they provide are theorized here as a pathway to maintaining a sense of purpose as we age. The study utilized a population sample from the 2016 and 2020 NZ Health, Work, and Retirement (NZHWR) longitudinal survey waves; N = 2869 (mean age of 65.82 years (SD = 6.40). A structural equation model investigated the relationship between Social Network Type and Purpose in Life and the mediating role of Social Support. The final model had a good fit to the data and explained 33.7% of the variance in Purpose in Life. Private, Self-Contained and Family Dependent network types (2016) were negatively related to Purpose in Life 4 years later (2020). Support from sense of Attachment, Reassurance of Worth, Reliable Alliance and Social Integration played a mediating role between Social Network type and Purpose in Life. These findings highlight the importance of social networks in maintaining a sense of purpose among older adults and highlight pathways for the types of networks, and kinds of social support they offer, which contribute to a sense of purpose in life. They underscore the importance of social support for the well-being of older adults and highlight the need to consider the quality and type of social networks and support they provide, when designing interventions to enhance well-being.