Continued and New Personal Relationships in Later Life

Groenou, M.I. Broese Van; Hoogendijk, Emiel O.; Tilburg, T.G. van

doi:10.1177/0898264312468033

Cited by 56 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The network size declines with aging, due to a lack of replacement of lost relationships. In particular, persons with cognitive and mental health problems were at risk of declining network size [128]. It was investigated whether the associations with or pathways to mortality risk differ by characteristics of the network.…”

Section: Major Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam: cohort update 2016 and major findings

et al. 2016

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The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) is an ongoing longitudinal study of older adults in the Netherlands, which started in 1992. LASA is focused on the determinants, trajectories and consequences of physical, cognitive, emotional and social functioning. The study is based on a nationally representative sample of older adults aged 55 years and over. The findings of the LASA study have been reported in over 450 publications so far (see www.lasa-vu.nl). In this article we describe the background and the design of the LASA study, and provide an update of the methods. In addition, we provide a summary of the major findings from the period 2011-2015.

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Section: Major Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam: cohort update 2016 and major findings

et al. 2016

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“…One reason for this difference is posited to lie in how older adults structure their social networks (Cartsensen, 2006). Both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies find that social networks tend to shrink in size across adulthood, with the most pronounced decreases occurring in advanced old age (e.g., van Groenou, Hoogendijk, & van Tilburg, 2013). Importantly, however, evidence suggests that older adults retain relationships with their closest, most rewarding social ties but winnow casual acquaintances and other peripheral social ties (Wrzus, Hanel, Wagner, & Neyer, 2013).…”

Section: Areas Of Strength In Older Adults’ Social Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Close social ties and health in later life: Strengths and vulnerabilities.

Rook

Charles

2017

American Psychologist

139

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The world is aging at an unprecedented rate, with older adults representing the fastest growing segment of the population in most economically developed and developing countries. This demographic shift leaves much uncharted territory for researchers who study social relationships and health. Social relationships exert powerful influences on physical health in later adulthood, a critical consideration given age-related increases in the prevalence of chronic health conditions and physical disability. A large body of research indicates that older adults report greater satisfaction with their social networks than do younger adults, and that they often take measures to minimize their exposure to negative social encounters. These emotionally satisfying and generally positive social ties afford some health protection against a backdrop of mounting physical limitations and play an important role when juxtaposed with the potentially health-damaging frictions that sometimes emerge in older adults’ social relationships. Although most older adults report that they are satisfied with their social ties, some older adults experience frequent conflicts or ambivalent exchanges with members of their social networks, and these experiences detract from their health. Additionally, many older adults will experience the loss of one or more close relationships during the course of their lives, with ramifications for their health and, often, for the reorganization of their social lives over time. Understanding how both the strengths and vulnerabilities of close social relationships affect health and well-being in later life is an important goal, particularly in view of the accelerating rate of population aging worldwide.

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“…In support of these theoretical notions, research has consistently shown age-related changes and differences in social networks (Broese van Groenou, Hoogendijk, & van Tilburg, 2013;Cornwell, Schumm, Laumann, Kim, & Kim, 2014;van Tilburg, 1998;Wrzus, Hänel, Wagner, & Neyer, 2013), as well as age-dependent effects of social networks on wellbeing (Litwin & Stoeckel, 2013). Yet, although kin networks tend to be stable over the life span, significant changes have been observed primarily in the non-kin network, with an estimated reduction of one person per decade starting at the age of 60-65 years (Wrzus et al, 2013).…”

Section: Different Types Of Social Networkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Types of Non-kin Networks and Their Association With Survival in Late Adulthood: A Latent Class Approach

Ellwardt

Aartsen²,

Tilburg

2016

GERONB

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Objectives: Integration into social networks is an important determinant of health and survival in late adulthood. We first identify different types of non-kin networks among older adults and second, investigate the association of these types with survival rates. Method: Official register information on mortality is combined with data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). The sample includes 2,440 Dutch respondents aged 54-85 at baseline in 1992 and six follow-ups covering a time span of 20 years. Using latent class analysis, respondents are classified into distinct types of non-kin networks, based on differences in number and variation of non-kin relations, social support received from non-kin, and contact frequency with non-kin. Next, membership in network types is related to mortality in a Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results: There are four latent types of non-kin networks that vary in network size and support. These types differ in their associations with mortality, independent of sociodemographic and health confounders. Older adults integrated into networks high in both number and variation of supportive non-kin contacts have higher chances of survival than older adults embedded in networks low in either amount or variation of support or both. Discussion: A combination of structural and functional network characteristics should be taken into account when developing intervention programs aiming at increasing social integration outside the family network. Keywords: Epidemiology-Mortality-Social networks-Social supportOver the last four decades, social epidemiologists have convincingly demonstrated positive effects of integration into social networks on survival (Berkman & Syme, 1979;Ellwardt, van Tilburg, Aartsen, Wittek, & Steverink, 2015;Holt-Lunstad, Smith, & Layton, 2010; Litwin & ShiovitzEzra, 2006), with evidence being relatively congruent across general and specific populations, countries, time, and gender. At the same time, social isolation has been argued to be a chronically stressful condition contributing to the accumulation of age-related morbidity and functional decline over the life course, thereby bearing the risk of accelerated aging (Berkman, 1988). As there is large variability in survival, and integration in social networks varies within and across people, there is a growing interest in determining which types of social networks relate to high chances of survival in old age.Most studies developing network typologies have so far focused on the overall social network including kin and non-kin (e.g., family-based network vs. friends-based network) and subsequently related types to mental health (Fiori & Jager, 2012;Gibney & McGovern, 2011;Litwin & Stoeckel, 2014) Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, 2017, Vol. 72, No. 4, 694-705 doi:10.1093 Advance Access publication October 17, 2016 Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article-abstract/72/4/694/2328824 by guest on 07 June 2019 friends and confidants protect against mortality, whereas ...

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Continued and New Personal Relationships in Later Life

Abstract: The older old and people in poor health have limited possibilities to compensate for network losses and may have a serious risk of declining network size in later life.

Cited by 56 publications

References 37 publications

The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam: cohort update 2016 and major findings

The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam: cohort update 2016 and major findings

Close social ties and health in later life: Strengths and vulnerabilities.

Types of Non-kin Networks and Their Association With Survival in Late Adulthood: A Latent Class Approach

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