Supportive relationships in later life.

Adopted a multidimensional approach to the study of the social support convoys of older adults. We distinguished between age and gender differences in 4 specific dimensions of the social support convoy: (a) existence vs functioning of relationships in the convoy, (b) kinds of relationships (i.e., those with children, siblings, friends), (c) types of social support (i.e., emotional support, respect, health support), and (d) receipt vs provision of support. Ss were 718 adults. We found that older people received less support (i.e., emotional and health support) in the absence of sibling relationships. Otherwise, the effects of aging had more to do with what the older person contributed to the convoy than with what he or she received. Women had better social support resources than men, particularly within friendships. We found no evidence, however, that women's social support advantage counterbalanced the effects of aging on the convoy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)