The Role of Formal Social Networks in Mitigating Mental Stress Among Older Adults in Poor Urban Communities in Rivers State Faculty of Social Sciences, Sociology Department Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworokwo Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Akani Bobby Okechukwu

doi:10.56201/jpaswr.v11.no9.2026.pg41.55

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The Role of Formal Social Networks in Mitigating Mental Stress Among Older Adults in Poor Urban Communities in Rivers State Faculty of Social Sciences, Sociology Department Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworokwo Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Akani Bobby Okechukwu

Abstract

Nigeria’s aging population is expanding rapidly, yet the country’s social and economic infrastructure remains ill-equipped to meet the needs of this growing demographic. In Rivers State, older adults living in poverty face multiple intersecting challenges including financial insecurity, social isolation, and limited access to mental health services. This article examines the role of formal social networks—including government programs, non-governmental organizations, and faith-based initiatives—in mitigating mental stress among older adults in poor urban communities within Port Harcourt and its environs. Drawing on Social Capital Theory as a guiding framework, the study explores how bonding, bridging, and linking social capital influence the effectiveness of formal support systems. The article argues that while traditional family caregiving structures are weakening due to urbanization and economic pressures, formal social networks remain underdeveloped, poorly coordinated, and culturally stigmatized. Using a mixed-methods approach involving surveys and in-depth interviews with 150 older adults across three low-income communities in Rivers State, the findings reveal that access to formal social networks significantly reduces self-reported mental stress, though barriers including inadequate funding, poor geographic coverage, and cultural beliefs about mental health persist. The article concludes with recommendations for strengthening formal support structures, enhancing coordination between government and non-state actors, and integrating culturally sensitive mental health interventions into existing social welfare programs.

Keywords

Formal social networksmental stressolder adultspovertysocial capital theoryRivers Stategeriatric social work

References

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The Role of Formal Social Networks in Mitigating Mental Stress Among Older Adults in Poor Urban Communities in Rivers State Faculty of Social Sciences, Sociology Department Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworokwo Port Harcourt, Nigeria

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