The Strength of Weaker Ties: An Underexplored Resource for Maintaining Emotional Well-Being in Later Life

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine dynamic links between changes in social ties and changes in emotional well-being. Method Trivariate dual-change score models were used to test whether a large number of close ties would be more strongly associated with low levels of depres...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences Vol. 75; no. 7; pp. 1433 - 1442
Main Authors Huxhold, Oliver, Fiori, Katherine L, Webster, Noah J, Antonucci, Toni C
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published US Oxford University Press 13.08.2020
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Depression - epidemiology
Depression - etiology
Emotions
Female
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Interviews as Topic
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Social Networking
Social Support
Young Adult
Socioemotional selectivity
Social networks
Well-being
Longitudinal change
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine dynamic links between changes in social ties and changes in emotional well-being. Method Trivariate dual-change score models were used to test whether a large number of close ties would be more strongly associated with low levels of depressed affect than a large number of weaker ties, and a large number of weaker ties would be more strongly associated with high levels of positive affect compared to a large number of close ties, across three waves of a large, regionally representative sample of U.S. adults aged 40 and older (N = 802). Results We found that a greater number of weaker ties was associated with having more close ties over time, and that the number of weaker ties was more strongly predictive of positive age-related changes in both aspects of well-being (i.e., more positive affect and less depressed affect) than the number of close ties. Discussion Contrary to popular theoretical orientations in gerontology, weaker ties may offer older adults a more effective avenue for promoting emotional well-being over time than close ties, and may have the additional benefit of compensating for losses in the number of close ties.
ISSN:1079-5014
1758-5368
DOI:10.1093/geronb/gbaa019