Social Relationships and Health in Older Adulthood
Title
Social Relationships and Health in Older Adulthood
Author
Robles, Theodore F.
Menkin, Josephine A.
Research Area
The Individual and Society
Topic
Health and Illness
Abstract
Older adults make up a larger proportion of the population and are living longer than in any time in previous history, which has important implications for their social relationships. This essay reviews key theory and research on changes in social networks over the lifespan, the benefits (and costs) of social relationships for physical health, and the health impact of loss of social relationships during older age. Methodological innovations are shedding new light on the specific biological mechanisms that explain how high and low quality social relationships can impact health, and we review these innovations in different contexts: marriage and loneliness. While social networks generally decrease in size across the lifespan, there is considerable potential for expanding social networks and forming new relationships in later life. However, the research literature on forming new friendships and intimate relationships in older adults is quite limited. Thus, this essay concludes by describing key issues and methodological challenges involved in studying new relationship formation in older adults.