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A Friend in Need? Exploring the Influence of Disease and Disability Onset on the Number of Close Friends Among Older Adults

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  • Kenzie Latham-Mintus
  • Deborah Carr

Abstract

Objectives This research examines whether onset of life-threatening disease (i.e., cancer, lung disease, heart disease, or stroke) or activities of daily living disability influences the reported number of close friends. MethodUsing data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; 2006–2012), this research capitalizes on panel data to assess changes in number of close friends over a 4-year period. Lagged dependent variable (LDV) and change score (CS) approaches were used. Results Both the LDV and CS models provide evidence that onset of life-threatening disease was associated with reporting more friends 4 years later. In particular, onset of cancer was associated with reporting more close friends. Discussion This research provides evidence of the network activation hypothesis following onset of life-threatening disease among older adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Kenzie Latham-Mintus & Deborah Carr, 2019. "A Friend in Need? Exploring the Influence of Disease and Disability Onset on the Number of Close Friends Among Older Adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 74(8), pages 119-124.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:74:y:2019:i:8:p:e119-e124.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbz050
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    Cited by:

    1. Sarah E Patterson & Rachel Margolis & Jessica Kelley, 2023. "Family Ties and Older Adult Well-Being: Incorporating Social Networks and Proximity," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 78(12), pages 2080-2089.
    2. Yang, Yulin & Huang, Rui & Grol-Prokopczyk, Hanna & Torres, Jacqueline M., 2022. "Social network change after new-onset pain among middle-aged and older European adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).

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