Perceived Social Support of Older Adults in Spain

Based on theory, perceived social support is a relevant multidimensional factor for the wellbeing and quality of life of older adults. However, not all measuring instruments are able to identify this multidimensionality in every population. In this sense, the objectives of this paper are: 1) to identify the dimensions underlying the social support perceived by older adults in Spain, using the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire (DUFSS); 2) to interpret how this population group rates the support it receives in the dimensions found; and 3) to determine the (fundamentally dynamic or stable) nature of the relationship between these dimensions and socio-demographic, personal, and family and friendship network-related factors. The data come from a Quality of Life survey conducted in 2008 among people aged 60 or over living in a community dwelling in Spain. The sample comprised 1106 individuals. The analysis of the dimensionality using the DUFSS scale through an exploratory factor analysis identified a sole dimension for this specific population, perceived affective support. The affective support perceived by 35% of older adults could be categorized as insufficient, according to the descriptive statistics of this scale and their reflection in the average level of loneliness measured by the De Jong Gierveld short loneliness scale (ANOVA Analysis). Standard multiple regression analysis suggests that the perception of affective support by older adults in Spain does not vary substantially depending on the factors analysed. The results offer signs that support the studies that defend the mainly stable nature of social perceived social support.