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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