Table 3.
Coefficients from Regression Models Predicting Bridging in Older Adults’ Networks from Health, Closeness to and Frequency of Contact with Network Members, and Network Composition
| Predictors | Brokerage potential (Negative binomial)a | Sole bridge status (Logistic)b | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (divided by 10) | 10.293* (.038) | 4.591 (.027) | 1.218* (.119) | 1.131 (.120) |
| Female | 27.437*** (.041) | 28.235*** (.040) | 1.449** (.188) | 1.691** (.273) |
| African-American | −9.691 (.066) | 1.863 (.055) | .929 (.151) | 1.227 (.207) |
| Latino | −32.354** (.123) | −9.698 (.113) | .679 (.137) | .918 (.230) |
| Education (ref = less than high school) | ||||
| Graduated high school | −2.432 (.084) | −3.777 (.084) | .974 (.160) | .882 (.177) |
| Some college | 31.254** (.083) | 13.958 (.081) | 1.374 (.263) | 1.054 (.214) |
| College degree | 42.377*** (.080) | 15.756* (.072) | 1.191 (.238) | .771 (.159) |
| Retired | −7.144 (.065) | −13.355*** (.046) | .725* (.096) | .621** (.091) |
| Marital status (ref = married/partnered) | ||||
| Separated/divorced | 72.012*** (.061) | 25.626*** (.058) | 4.722*** (.821) | 3.199*** (.589) |
| Widowed | 11.342 (.071) | 11.272 (.074) | 2.227*** (.354) | 2.343*** (.430) |
| Never married | 75.802*** (.124) | 15.597 (.107) | 5.321*** (1.637) | 2.832** (1.026) |
| Depression | 16.291** (.043) | 9.054* (.036) | 1.352** (.141) | 1.282* (.142) |
| Cognitive function | 7.907* (.034) | 5.690* (.024) | 1.185* (.079) | 1.213** (.083) |
| Functional health | 20.380* (.088) | 4.095 (.078) | 1.551** (.204) | 1.368* (.194) |
| Closeness to network members | −12.212* (.056) | .616** (.096) | ||
| Frequency of interaction w/network members | −.379*** (.000) | .993*** (.001) | ||
| Kin composition | −50.154*** (.039) | .326*** (.030) | ||
| F (d.f.) | 18.57*** (14, 36) | 87.03*** (17, 33) | 13.22*** (15, 35) | 23.47*** (18, 32) |
*
p < .05,
**
p < .01,
***
p < .001 (two-tailed tests)
a
The total number of pairs of alters in the network is included as the exposure variable. Negative binomial coefficients are transformed to reflect percent change ([(exp b) − 1]100). Standard errors for the original coefficients are in parentheses.
b
Includes control for the number of alter-pairs in the network.