Rural Communities in the Deep South: Examining the Relationship Between Social Function and General Health Perceptions in Older Black Americans

Background: Increased mortality in rural southern areas has persisted and worsened among older Black adults due to high prevalence of chronic conditions combined with limited healthcare access resulting from social and structural factors.

Objective: Our objective was to examine the relationship between general health perceptions, social functioning, mental health, and demographic characteristics among Black adults living in the rural south.

Methods: This cross-sectional study examined health perceptions in older Black Americans residing in four rural towns within Alabama (Clayton, Fort Deposit, Hobson City, and York). Participants completed a self-report survey exploring general health, social functioning, mental health, and demographic characteristics. Linear regression was used to examine the relationship between these variables and the primary outcome of general health.

Results: The average age of participants (N = 119) was 64.8 years (SD = 9.4). Social functioning, depressive symptoms, age group, and town of residence were all significantly associated with general health (p < 0.05). A one unit increase in social functioning was associated with a .28 unit increase in general health scores, p = 0.002. General health scores decreased by 19.4 units for participants reporting depressive symptoms (p < 0.0001) and by 9.8 units for those aged 65 and older (p = 0.003).

Conclusion: These findings support the need for targeted health resources in rural communities based on population needs and replicates prior studies that have shown increases in social networks may help improve physical and emotional health among the aging adult population.