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Journal of Aging and Health, Vol. 18, No. 6, 814-836 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0898264306293263

Network Composition and Health Behaviors Among Older Samoan Women

Lené Levy-Storms

University of California, Los Angeles, and Jewish Home for the Aging of Greater Los Angeles

James E. Lubben

Boston College

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to explore how kin and nonkin social support networks influence health behaviors among older Samoan women.

Method: Using a cross-sectional survey design, 290 Samoan women who were age 50 years and older were interviewed. Using separate logistic regressions, each health behavior was regressed on age and kin and nonkin social support networks after controlling for background characteristics and health status.

Results: In multivariate analyses, higher scores on kin increased the likelihood of never salting food, getting screened for diabetes in the past year, and having had a mammogram in the past 2 years, whereas higher scores on nonkin increased the likelihood of exercising at all and ever trying to lose weight.

Discussion: Kin networks positively affect mostly chronic disease-related health behaviors, whereas nonkin networks positively affect mostly lifestyle-related health behaviors.

Key Words: social support networks • minority women’s health • health promotion • health behavior

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