In this study, we contrasted socioemotional selectivity theory (SST;
Carstensen, 2006) with dynamic integration theory (DIT; Labouvie-Vief, 2003) using
trajectories of quantitative and qualitative social support in later life. SST is a lifespan
theory of motivational development (Carstensen, Isaacowitz, & Charles, 1999). There
is a normative decline in social support networks in later life. In other words,
individuals who perceive the limitation on time left for their future are likely to
decrease the quantitative social support and compensate for this decrease by
improving qualitative social support with emotionally meaningful social partners. The
theory also postulates that age is the primary proxy for perceived limitation of
individuals' lives (Carstensen, Fung, & Charles, 2003). Further, self-reported health
and functional status are factors that affect older adults' perception of limitation of
time left in their lives (Carstensen, 2006).
In contrast, DIT is a neo-Piagetian theory that emphasizes the presence of
individual differences in quantitative and qualitative social support in later life
depending on individuals' levels of cognitive resources that are associated with
educational levels (Labouvie-Vief & Diehl, 2000). Despite these different arguments
on the trajectories of quantitative and qualitative social support in later life, SST and
DIT have not been tested within a same study.
The current study examined the trajectories of frequency of social contact
(quantitative social support) and reliance on family members and close friends
(qualitative social support) in later life. Participants were drawn from the Normative
Aging Study (NAS; N = 1,067, M[subscript age] = 60.83, SD = 8.08) who completed social support
surveys three times from 1985 to 1991. Using unconditional and unconditional
analyses (Raudenbush & Bryk, 1986), growth models of frequency of social contact
with and reliance on family members and close friends were tested. Within subject
analyses found that the trajectory of frequency of social contact was a U-shaped curve
with the age of 54 years at a peak, while the trajectory of reliance on family and
friends were stable and linear. Random effects of age for the intercept and slope were
significant in both models of frequency of contact and reliance on family and friends,
although the random effect for the latter were small in both models.
Between subjects analyses were conducted to examine whether cognitive
resources, marital status, health status, and functional status predicted variance in the
intercept and slope of both types of support. As SST hypothesized, having better self-reported
physical health predicted higher levels of frequency of contact over age.
Being married was associated with higher quantity of social support. However,
contrary to our hypothesis based on SST, having poorer functional status predicted
more frequent social contact over age. The random effect of intercept was still
significant after controlling for these psychosocial predictors.
The evidence to test the DIT hypotheses was examined in the model of the
qualitative social support. Having memory problems predicted decreasing reliance on
social partners. However, marital status and education did not significantly predict
change in qualitative social relationships. Contrary to the hypothesis based on SST
that posited poor self-reported health was associated with higher qualitative social
support, it was better self-reported health that predicted higher qualitative social
support. The random effects for the intercept and slope were still significant after
controlling for these psychosocial factors.
Taken together, the findings of the current study suggest that SST and DIT can
be used as theoretical frameworks that are complementary rather than contradictory in
their predictions of socioemotional development in later life. SST is useful to
illustrate the overall trajectory of quantitative social support in a normative
development in late life. DIT's stance better explains the individual differences in
qualitative social support in non-normative contexts. The findings also suggest that
having memory problems and poor self-reported health as non-normative
developmental outcomes may be risk factors of older adults' ability to seek for social
support. / Graduation date: 2012
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/29734 |
| Date | 18 May 2012 |
| Creators | Toyokawa, Noriko |
| Contributors | Aldwin, Carolyn M. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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