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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Spencer Moore, PhD, MPH, CR-CHUM, Universite de Montreal, 3875 St. Urbain, Bureau 3-02, Montreal, QC H2W 1V1, Canada, (514) 890-8000, x: 15901, spencer.moore@umontreal.ca, Therese Riley, PhD, Centre for Health & Society, University of Melbourne, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Valerie Haines, PhD, Sociology, University of Calgary, Sociology, Calgary, AB T2N 4T1, Canada, Alan Shiell, PhD, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada, and Carrie Collier, Calgary Health Region, Rocky Mt., Calgary, AB H2N4T1, Canada.

We present the use of a mixed-methods approach for examining how seniors organize social capital and participation inside and outside their congregate housing residences. Phase-one qualitative research revealed a distinction between the way seniors describe residents who participate locally (i.e., within the residence), “joiners,” and those seniors who do not participate locally but who nevertheless appear active outside the residential site, “loners.” Extra-residential ties appear central to the ways in which seniors describe local social life. Based on this finding, we use phase 2 individual survey data and independent group t-tests to examine the significant mean differences between seniors who are above the sample median in the number of local (“joiners,” n=30) ties and those who fall below the median (“loners,” n=77). Preliminary analyses reveal “loners” as a group to be better educated and report higher overall health status. “Joiners”, on the other hand, report a significantly higher average sense of influence on residential affairs, denser network of ties, and more problems with family. Our presentation will integrate phase 1 and phase 2 results to discuss how to conceptualize the presumed benefits of social capital when its effects may shift depending on where a senior focuses their social allegiances.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to
• discuss the use of mixed-methods approaches,
• identify how such an approach differs from qualitative or quantitative approaches alone, and
• understand better how the benefits of social capital may change depending on the scale of analysis.

Keywords: Community Participation, Aging

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered