【作者简介】唐丹，中国人民大学人口与发展研究中心、老年学研究所副教授，主要研究方向为老年心理健康；张琨，中国教育科学研究院区域教育研究所实习研究员,主要研究方向为老年教育、区域教育、教育政策。

【文章来源】《社会建设》2023年第4期

【内容提要】身体健康、心理健康和社会功能良好是世界卫生组织界定的健康概念的三个组成要素，研究健康三要素的关系及其中的作用机制有着重要的理论和现实意义。本文利用中国老年社会追踪调查数据，分析老年人身体健康（自理能力）对心理健康（抑郁水平）的作用，重点讨论了社会功能（社会网络，包括家庭网络和朋友网络）在其中的作用机制。结果表明，身体健康对老年人朋友网络的影响大于对家庭网络的影响；家庭网络和朋友网络在老年人身体健康对心理健康的影响中发挥着部分中介的作用；同时，家庭网络和朋友网络还在其中发挥调节作用，家庭网络对身体健康水平低的老年人之心理健康具有更强的保护作用，而朋友网络对身体健康水平高的老年人之心理健康具有更强的保护作用。当老年人身体健康程度下降时，应该特别确保其家庭网络，进而更有效地维护老年人心理健康。

【关键词】老年人；社会网络；身体健康；心理健康

【基金项目】国家社科基金重大项目“实施积极应对人口老龄化国家战略”(21ZDA106)。

【全文链接】https://shjs.ruc.edu.cn/CN/Y2023/V10/I4/60

The Role of Social Networks in the Association between Physical Health and Mental Health among Older Adults

Tang Dan Zhang Kun

Abstract: Physical health, mental health, and good social functioning are elements of the concept of health proposed by WHO.Health can ensure the quality of life of older adults and is also the basis of active aging.It is of great theoretical and practical significance to study the relationship and the mechanism among the three elements of health.Using the data of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), this study examines the associations among physical health (Activity of Daily Living), social networks (including family ties and friendship ties), and mental health (depression) among Chinese older adults.The moderating and mediating effects of social networks between physical health and mental health are tested.Results show that physical health has a greater effect on friendship ties than that on family ties;Both family ties and friendship ties partially mediate the association between physical health and mental health.Moreover, family ties and friendship ties can moderate the association between physical health and mental health.Older adults with poorer physical health can benefit more from family ties, while older women with better physical health can benefit more from friendship ties.When the physical health of older adults declines, special emphasis should be placed on the role of the family ties, so as to more effectively maintain the mental health of older adults.

Kevwords: Older Adults;Social Network;Physical Health;Mental Health