This study examines L. L. Carstensen's (1993, 1995) socioemotional selectivity theory within and across three cohorts spanning 4 decades. Socioemotional selectivity theory predicts that as individuals age, they narrow their social networks to devote more emotional resources to fewer relationships with close friends and family. Data from 3 cohorts of nationally representative samples were analyzed to determine whether respondents' satisfaction with the size of their social networks differed by age, cohort, or both. Results support socioemotional selectivity theory: More older adults than younger adults were satisfied with the current size of their social networks rather than wanting larger networks. These findings are consistent across all cohorts. Results are discussed with respect to social relationships across the life course.

Improving the psychological well-being of individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) is an important concern because the condition is highly prevalent and has no known cure. Few studies have assessed the joint contribution of social, personality, and physical factors in relation to well-being for OA patients. In a cross-sectional sample of older adults with OA (n = 73, 73% female), we assessed the role of support perceptions, optimism and pain in depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. Greater optimism and support were significantly related to both greater life satisfaction and lower depressive symptoms. Further, optimism partially mediated the relationship of pain to life satisfaction, while support partially mediated the role of pain in depressive symptoms. The interplay of these variables in relation to well-being is discussed in the context of chronic illness and older adulthood.

Although much work addresses the importance of siblings and friendships in separate investigations, few studies simultaneously examine both relationships. Young adults (N ¼ 102, M age ¼ 18.7) were surveyed about their friendships, their sibling relationships, and their psychological well-being (assessed by self-esteem and loneliness). Participants with harmonious (high warmth, low conflict) sibling relations and same-gender friends had the highest well-being. Participants with affect-intense (high warmth, high conflict) sibling relationships had low well-being. However, participants who had low-involved (low warmth, low conflict) and affect-intense same-gender friendships did not differ in well-being. When examining joint effects, having a harmonious same-gender friendship compensated for having a low-involved sibling relationship, but having harmonious sibling relations did not compensate for having low-involved friendships. Overall, the results underscore the importance of positive and negative relationship properties and the joint effects of multiple relationships.We are grateful for the efforts of four anonymous reviewers whose feedback on previous versions of this paper improved it greatly. We are deeply appreciative of the efforts of Daniel Perlman, whose knowledge and editorial expertise, as well as kindness and support, were invaluable during the evaluation process.Correspondence should be addressed to Aurora M. Sherman

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Friendship occupies an important place in the growing body of literature in child development and gerontological research. As such, it may be useful for researchers from both fields to consider what can be learned from work carried out in each tradition. Therefore, we present a selected review of topics in friendship research across the life span. Through discussion of the value of friendship, the development of friendship, challenges to friendship, the gendered nature of friendship, and the connection between friends and family, points of commonality and contrast are identified. We conclude by presenting possible avenues for future investigation for researchers interested in friendship at any point in the life span.

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Background-Small samples with few minority women and/or the absence of comparisons to peers without cancer histories have limited previous research suggesting racial differences in breast cancer survivors' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The present study not only compares HRQoL of African American and white breast cancer survivors, but also compares the HRQoL of these women to that of same race women with no cancer history. Methods-Data from the Women's Health Initiative-Observational Study were used including 5,021 cancer survivors and 88,532 women without a history of cancer. Multivariable regression analyses estimated differences in breast cancer survivors' baseline HRQoL (RAND36), depressive symptoms (CES-D short-form), and sleep quality (WHIIRS). Results-African American breast cancer survivors reported worse physical functioning and general health compared to white survivors. Among African Americans, survivors reported worse role limitations due to physical health, pain, general health, and vitality than women without a history of cancer. This was most evident in those with more recent diagnoses. Most significant differences between groups were small in magnitude (Cohen's d=.21-.36).

Objectives-Current treatments for osteoarthritis (OA) continue to leave those burdened by the condition with pain and disability which affects physical and psychological well-being. The present study examines other psychosocial factors, such as dispositional personality and social relationships, in order to investigate their influence on the well-being of 160 older adults with OA (80% women).Method-Older adults were recruited for self-reported knee or hip OA. Participants completed selfreport measures of optimism and pessimism, social support, social strain, and life satisfaction using the computer program MediaLab. Measures were taken twice 9-12 months apart.Results-Results showed that, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, pessimism was related to lower social support and higher social strain. In addition, pessimism was mediated by social support in its relationship to life satisfaction.Discussion-Our models support the combined roles of pessimism and social support influencing life satisfaction over time. Future interventions may want to concentrate on improving the social relationships of people with OA to enhance psychological well-being.