A latent class analysis of friendship network types and their predictors in the second half of life.
| Autor: | Miche M; Department of Psychological Aging Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany. martina.miche@psychologie.uni-heidelberg.de, Huxhold O, Stevens NL |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences [J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci] 2013 Jul; Vol. 68 (4), pp. 644-52. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 May 20. |
| DOI: | 10.1093/geronb/gbt041 |
| Abstrakt: | Objectives: Friendships contribute uniquely to well-being in (late) adulthood. However, studies on friendship often ignore interindividual differences in friendship patterns. The aim of this study was to investigate such differences including their predictors. Method: The study builds on Matthews's qualitative model of friendship styles. Matthews distinguished 3 approaches to friendship differing by number of friends, duration of friendships, and emotional closeness. We used latent class analysis to identify friendship network types in a sample of middle-aged and older adults aged 40-85 years (N = 1,876). Data came from the German Aging Survey (DEAS). Results: Our analysis revealed 4 distinct friendship network types that were in high congruence with Matthews's typology. We identified these as a discerning style, which focuses on few close relationships, an independent style, which refrains from close engagements, and 2 acquisitive styles that both acquire new friends across their whole life course but differ regarding the emotional closeness of their friendships. Socioeconomic status, gender, health, and network-disturbing and network-sustaining variables predicted affiliations with network types. Discussion: We argue that future studies should consider a holistic view of friendships in order to better understand the association between friendships and well-being in the second half of life. |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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