Table 1 Sample characteristics and prevalence of health variables among older South Africans
From: Social capital and health among older adults in South Africa
Variables Sociodemographics | Total sample N (%) | Self-rated good health % | Depressive symptoms % | Cognitive functioning % | Physical inactivity % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All | 3840 | 37.9 | 49.9 | 52.0 | 60.5 |
Age | |||||
50–59 | 1695 (49.9) | 45.0 | 51.7 | 61.0 | 53.2 |
60–69 | 1233 (30.6) | 33.6 | 48.0 | 47.5 | 65.4 |
70–79 | 661 (14.0) | 27.6 | 47.8 | 40.1 | 70.3 |
80 and over | 251 (5.5) | 24.2 | 49.3 | 23.1 | 73.7 |
Gender | |||||
Female | 2202 (55.9) | 34.6 | 52.1 | 47.4 | 63.1 |
Male | 1638 (44.1) | 42.1 | 47.1 | 57.8 | 57.2 |
Educational level | |||||
No schooling | 854 (25.2) | 37.0 | 49.9 | 42.8 | 59.7 |
Less than primary | 803 (24.0) | 30.0 | 53.9 | 42.7 | 59.5 |
Primary | 779 (22.4) | 31.7 | 53.8 | 49.7 | 64.4 |
Secondary | 923 (28.3) | 51.2 | 43.3 | 75.2 | 59.6 |
Wealth | |||||
Low | 1482 (40.6) | 31.3 | 51.6 | 41.3 | 59.8 |
Medium | 731 (18.2) | 37.2 | 52.7 | 45.1 | 58.1 |
High | 1608 (41.2) | 44.7 | 47.1 | 65.0 | 62.3 |
Social capital variables | |||||
Married/cohabitating | 2007 (55.9) | 43.4 | 45.8 | 60.2 | 58.2 |
Never married/divorced/widowed | 1762 (44.1) | 30.9 | 55.3 | 41.8 | 63.5 |
Social action | |||||
Low (0) | 1816 (45.1) | 35.6 | 52.1 | 47.2 | 66.8 |
Medium (1) | 769 (24.3) | 42.8 | 51.9 | 55.1 | 54.1 |
High (2–4) | 1018 (30.6) | 37.2 | 46.7 | 56.4 | 51.6 |
Sociability | |||||
Low (0–1) | 744 (19.2) | 28.2 | 52.8 | 45.7 | 64.7 |
Medium (2–3) | 1513 (42.2) | 38.4 | 46.8 | 52.9 | 57.7 |
High (4) | 1320 (38.6) | 42.1 | 52.4 | 54.0 | 58.0 |
Trust and solidarity | |||||
Low (0) | 462 (16.0) | 27.2 | 63.5 | 36.0 | 68.8 |
Medium (1) | 1453 (40.7) | 32.8 | 52.7 | 49.1 | 64.5 |
High (2) | 1224 (43.3) | 47.3 | 42.5 | 59.3 | 54.5 |
Safety | |||||
Low (0) | 323 (9.6) | 33.3 | 62.1 | 64.2 | 49.2 |
Medium (1) | 2364 (61.7) | 33.8 | 49.6 | 48.4 | 64.2 |
High (2–3) | 908 (28.7) | 49.3 | 47.4 | 55.3 | 50.9 |
Civic engagement | |||||
Low (0) | 366 (9.0) | 33.2 | 44.5 | 35.5 | 76.3 |
Medium (1) | 1504 (41.5) | 37.7 | 50.9 | 51.0 | 58.0 |
High (2–4) | 1626 (49.5) | 40.2 | 49.5 | 56.2 | 55.1 |
Psychological resources | |||||
Low (2–5) | 895 (25.9) | 19.4 | 72.2 | 36.6 | 70.8 |
Medium (6) | 1655 (42.0) | 39.9 | 45.8 | 53.3 | 60.2 |
High (7–10) | 1075 (32.1) | 50.2 | 38.6 | 62.2 | 48.1 |