What type of theory relates to exploring how social support impacts health in older adults?

The appropriate choice is explanatory theory because this type of theory is designed to clarify the relationships between variables and to provide insights into why certain phenomena occur. In the context of exploring how social support impacts health in older adults, an explanatory theory would help to elucidate the mechanisms through which social support contributes to health outcomes. For instance, it could examine how emotional, informational, or tangible support influences mental well-being, stress reduction, or even physical health indicators among the elderly.

This exploration is essential in understanding the causal relationships and underlying processes involved, which is the central goal of explanatory theories. Normative theories, on the other hand, tend to focus on what ought to be or establish standards, rather than explaining causal relationships. Descriptive theories primarily outline characteristics of phenomena without delving into the underlying mechanisms, while predictive theories forecast outcomes based on identified patterns but do not necessarily provide an understanding of the "why" behind those patterns. Therefore, in the context of investigating the impact of social support on health, the explanatory theory is the most fitting choice.