Abstract

Low social integration is a risk factor for both mental and physical well-being and might reinforce inequalities in the well-being of ageing populations. So far, few studies have investigated the patterns of social integration and well-being from a country comparative perspective.

Based on a comprehensive index of social integration (Berkman & Syme 1997, Am J Epidemiol) we reconstructed with SHARE, we assess gender differences in social integration in later life and ask whether they may partly be attributed to the differing organization of family care. Our study sheds light on the following questions: (i) Does the social integration of older adults differ across Europe? (ii) Which population groups are affected by low social integration? (iii) Do inequalities in integration differ between European care regimes?

Biography

Martina Brandt is Professor for Social Structure and Sociology of Aging Societies, Vice Dean of Research at Department 17, Speaker of the HBS Graduate School „New challenges in ageing societies“ and head of the Master’s Program on Ageing Societies at the TU Dortmund University. She has the chairmanship of the Expert Commission on the 9th Government Report on Older People and is involved in the central coordination of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) as „Area Coordinator Family and Social Networks“. Her research and teaching are in the field of ageing in Europe.

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