Sources of Friendship and Structurally Induced Homophily across the Life Course

Thomas, Reuben J.

doi:10.1177/0731121419828399

Cited by 78 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Older adults' life circumstances and discussion topics are hardly the same as other age groups. The different life contexts are associated with varying discussion issues (Bearman and Parigi 2004) and offer different opportunities to form and develop discussion partner ties (Cornwell et al 2008;Feld 1981;Thomas 2019). Thus, young and middle age adults' types of discussion partners would be different from older adults' discussion partners in their distribution and detail characteristics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Different Discussion Partners and Their Effect on Depression among Older Adults

Lee

2021

Social Sciences

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Although the multidimensionality of core discussion networks has been well established and widely studied, studies of the effects of social support on depression rarely consider the multifaceted aspects of dyadic discussion partner ties. This article proposes defining dyadic social relationships as a construct comprising several tie-level attributes and differentiating multiple forms of support relationships by assessing the configuration pattern of multiple attributes. The current study examines various forms of older adults’ discussion partners and identifies which form of discussion partner relationship is effective at buffering the negative effects of adverse life events on depression symptoms. Results from the University of California Social Network Survey show that older adults’ discussion partners can be classified into five distinct types of dyadic ties: spouse/romantic partners, close neighbors, remote type, social companions, and acquaintances. The discussion network with more close neighbor confidants is more effective at buffering the negative effects of adverse life events. These results offer an alternative way of investigating the differential significance of various social support relationships in mental well-being.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Different Discussion Partners and Their Effect on Depression among Older Adults

Lee

2021

Social Sciences

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“…Furthermore, as is true of most laboratory experiments conducted in social psychology, college students were the participants. Further research could examine the influence of similarity and dissimilarity information on changes in attraction in older samples as the role of homophily may change over the life course (Thomas 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does (Dis)Similarity Information about a New Acquaintance Lead to Liking or Repulsion? An Experimental Test of a Classic Social Psychology Issue

Sprecher

2019

Soc Psychol Q

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Decades of social psychology research has established the importance of similarity in leading to attraction. However, in response to early social psychology experiments demonstrating the similarity effect, Rosenbaum proposed the repulsion hypothesis, arguing that similarity does not lead to liking, but rather, dissimilarity leads to repulsion. Research to address whether dissimilarity carries more weight than similarity has generally involved participants’ reactions to sterile information about a bogus other whom they never meet. In contrast, in this study ( N = 150), individuals first greeted another participant over Skype before they received manipulated (bogus) information on similarity or dissimilarity. In support of the similarity-attraction hypothesis, the two-step experimental design indicated that the participants in the similarity condition experienced an increase in liking and other positive reactions from before to after the receipt of the bogus similarity information. Participants in the dissimilarity condition, however, experienced no change (i.e., no repulsion effect).

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“…Friendships that are developed and maintained in markets are quite common. In a nationally representative study, Thomas ( 2019 : 822) “presents results from the first U.S. survey with data on how respondents met their friends, specifically the two nonfamily friends they most often socialize with.” According to Thomas (ibid. : 830), The most common sources of new friendships are very distinct by age: Educational settings are the biggest source in early life, workplace-formed friendships predominate in the middle stages, and brokerage through neighboring (as neighbors or introduced by neighbors) is most common in the later stages of life.…”

Section: Markets As Social Spacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Commercial Friendships During a Pandemic

2021

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Although much of the nascent scholarship on COVID-19 has highlighted the tremendous health, economic, and social consequences of the pandemic, what has been underappreciated is the loss of commercial friendships due to the pandemic. Markets are social spaces where individuals can meet and form meaningful connections. But, because many market interactions that would have taken place in person before the pandemic moved remote and online, or were cancelled altogether, the COVID-19 pandemic has limited the ability of market participants to form and maintain meaningful social bonds. Indeed, we argue that COVID-19 is a disruptor of the formation and continuance of these commercial relationships. Specifically, we find that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) commercial interactions have become more anonymous and less personalized; (2) the formation and maintenance of commercial friendships are hindered because of the transition to virtual platforms, which are imperfect substitutes for in person connections; (3) during lockdowns, individuals spend more time interacting with closer ties rather than weaker ties; and (4) during the pandemic commercial settings are less likely to serve as social arenas.

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Sources of Friendship and Structurally Induced Homophily across the Life Course

Cited by 78 publications

References 57 publications

Different Discussion Partners and Their Effect on Depression among Older Adults

Different Discussion Partners and Their Effect on Depression among Older Adults

Does (Dis)Similarity Information about a New Acquaintance Lead to Liking or Repulsion? An Experimental Test of a Classic Social Psychology Issue

Commercial Friendships During a Pandemic

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