Universität zu Köln

Ellwardt, Lea, Wittek, Rafael P. M., Hawkley, Louise C. and Cacioppo, John T. (2020). Social Network Characteristics and Their Associations With Stress in Older Adults: Closure and Balance in a Population-Based Sample. J. Gerontol. Ser. B-Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., 75 (7). S. 1573 - 1585. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. ISSN 1758-5368

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Abstract

Objectives: Integration into social networks reduces stress during adverse life events and improves coping with disability in late life. The aim was to investigate whether social network closure (frequent contact among ties) and balance (positive contact among ties) are associated with perceived stress. We expect lowest stress for older adults with highly closed and balanced networks. Method: Panel data on self-reported egocentric networks stem from the population-based Chicago Health, Aging, and Social Relations Study. Five waves were collected between 2002 and 2006, with 708 observations from 160 participants aged 50-68 years at baseline. Data include information on the participants' social relationships, that is, interaction frequency and relationship quality, for ego-alter ties and alter-alter ties, and participants' perceived stress. The analytical strategy used fixed- and random-effects models. Results: Participants reporting the highest number of balanced relationships (positive ties among alters) experience least stress. This effect holds independently of sociodemographic confounders, loneliness, and network size. Discussion: The absence of a stress-reducing effect from network closure suggests that balance matters more. Future research would benefit from considering balance when examining the characteristics of social networks that impinge on mental health outcomes in older adults.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Ellwardt, Lea UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Wittek, Rafael P. M. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Hawkley, Louise C. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Cacioppo, John T. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-320082
DOI:	10.1093/geronb/gbz035
Journal or Publication Title:	J. Gerontol. Ser. B-Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci.
Volume:	75
Number:	7
Page Range:	S. 1573 - 1585
Date:	2020
Publisher:	OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
Place of Publication:	CARY
ISSN:	1758-5368
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language RELATIONSHIP QUALITY; STRUCTURAL BALANCE; HEALTH; SUPPORT; LONELINESS; REACTIVITY; MORTALITY; DISEASE; IMPACT; TIES Multiple languages Geriatrics & Gerontology; Gerontology; Psychology; Psychology, Multidisciplinary Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/32008