Structural and functional aspects of social support for the elderly in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil

This study aimed to describe the distribution of social support networks for the elderly in the City of Sao Paulo, Brazil, based on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. A probability sample of 1,568 elderly persons (>= 60 years) was studied (SABE query), focusing on structural and functional dimensions of social networks. Univariate and multiple logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. The best conditions in social networks were in the lowest income levels and the worst among older and unmarried people. For women, unmarried marital status was significantly associated with lower schooling. Cohabiting had the Strongest influence on the functional dimension, while "living alone" significantly decreased the odds of social exchange. Multiple logistic regression by gender suggested that age, marital status, per capita income, and schooling were associated with social networks among elderly people. However, these relationships were expressed unevenly between the genders and depending on the socio-demographic characteristics of the different dimensions of the social support network.