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Social network changes among older Europeans: the role of gender

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  • Ella Schwartz

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Howard Litwin

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Abstract

This study examined changes in the social networks of older Europeans. It utilizes the framework of the socioemotional selectivity theory and the convoy model to explore the social networks’ changes over time, as well as the turnover of specific social network members. Furthermore, the study analyzed gender as a predictor of these transformations. The inquiry focused on older adults aged 65+ who participated in the fourth and sixth waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (n = 13,938). The findings reveal a general trend of network expansion over time, with addition of new members and a higher proportion of family ties. These trends mask considerable individual variability in change trajectories, however. A series of OLS and Poisson regressions revealed that women were more likely to report network growth via addition of new social network members, and lower family involvement. These findings underscore the dynamic nature of older Europeans’ interpersonal milieu. They also underscore the role of gender in social network transformations and show that the dynamics of older Europeans’ personal networks differ for men and women.

Suggested Citation

  • Ella Schwartz & Howard Litwin, 2018. "Social network changes among older Europeans: the role of gender," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 359-367, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:15:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1007_s10433-017-0454-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-017-0454-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kristine J. Ajrouch & Alysia Y. Blandon & Toni C. Antonucci, 2005. "Social Networks Among Men and Women: The Effects of Age and Socioeconomic Status," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 60(6), pages 311-317.
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    5. Lisa L. Barnes & Carlos F. Mendes de Leon & Julia L. Bienias & Denis A. Evans, 2004. "A Longitudinal Study of Black–White Differences in Social Resources," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 59(3), pages 146-153.
    6. Claude S. Fischer & Lauren Beresford, 2015. "Changes in Support Networks in Late Middle Age: The Extension of Gender and Educational Differences," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 70(1), pages 123-131.
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    Cited by:

    1. M. Kauppi & M. Virtanen & J. Pentti & V. Aalto & M. Kivimäki & J. Vahtera & S. Stenholm, 2021. "Social network ties before and after retirement: a cohort study," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 503-512, December.
    2. Howard Litwin & Michal Levinsky & Ella Schwartz, 2020. "Network type, transition patterns and well-being among older Europeans," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 241-250, June.
    3. Frauke Meyer-Wyk & Susanne Wurm, 2024. "The role of social network diversity in self-perceptions of aging in later life," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-15, December.
    4. Vanessa Burholt & Bethan Winter & Marja Aartsen & Costas Constantinou & Lena Dahlberg & Villar Feliciano & Jenny Jong Gierveld & Sofie Regenmortel & Charles Waldegrave, 2020. "A critical review and development of a conceptual model of exclusion from social relations for older people," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 3-19, March.
    5. George Pavlidis & Thomas Hansen & Andreas Motel-Klingebiel & Marja Aartsen, 2022. "Network and solitude satisfaction as modifiers of disadvantages in the quality of life of older persons who are challenged by exclusion from social relations: a gender stratified analysis," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(5), pages 2859-2875, October.
    6. Young Bum Kim & Seung Hee Lee, 2022. "Gender Differences in Correlates of Loneliness among Community-Dwelling Older Koreans," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-11, June.
    7. Caroline Fischl & Nina Lindelöf & Helena Lindgren & Ingeborg Nilsson, 2020. "Older adults’ perceptions of contexts surrounding their social participation in a digitalized society—an exploration in rural communities in Northern Sweden," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 281-290, September.

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