Types of social networks among urban older Indians: a cross-sectional study

This study aims to develop an empirical typology of social networks among urban-living older Indians and assess their association with socio-demographic and health measures. A sample of 378 older persons aged 60 years and above was selected from a cross-sectional primary survey using a semi-structured questionnaire in the Kalyani Municipal Area (KMA) of West Bengal, India. Hierarchical and K-means cluster analysis, using twelve social network variables, revealed five distinct social network types: “Other” (5.82%), “Distant Family” (41.27%), “Friend” (15.08%), “Children,” i.e., living away (28.04%), and “Spouse and Children,” i.e., living together (9.79%). Among these, the distant family network, comprising horizontally extended family members, such as siblings, cousins, relatives, and distant in-laws, emerged as the most common network type, representing nearly half of the respondents. Bivariate analysis revealed that family-based networks were predominant among young-old individuals (60–69 years) who were married, co-residing, economically well-off, and generally in good health. While non-family networks were more common among the oldest-old individuals (≥ 80 years) who were widowed, living alone, financially dependent, and experiencing worse health outcomes. The presented network typology and its association with socio-demographic and health characteristics provide a comprehensive understanding of the structural aspects of social relationships among urban-dwelling older persons and may aid practitioners in designing targeted social interventions to promote healthy ageing.