What is a social support system, and what
effect do gender and family structure have
on it? A social support system is the network of
relatives and friends who provide emotional and
instrumental support. Support systems create a
convoy, which follows people over the life
course. Women have more extensive social support
networks than men and thus have more of
the benefits they provide but also more of the
strains. Some older people lack a family support
network, either because their children have
moved away or because they have no children
or have never married. Among the never-married
elderly, other kin often play the role typically
reserved for children. The increase in life
expectancy over the past century has created a
bean pole family structure, expanding the potential
social support system of aging people to
include four or even five generations.
How do older Americans compare to
other Americans in marital status? Elderly
women are significantly more likely than younger
women to be single, simply because they live
longer than men. And because they tend to
marry older men, they are not likely to remarry
after being widowed.
How does marital satisfaction change over
the life course? Studies of marital satisfaction
over the life course consistently show a decline
during the child-rearing years. In part, the decline
during the child-rearing years is caused by
role strain. As the children leave home, marital
satisfaction rises, peaking in the retirement years.
The later-life satisfaction peak may also be a
function of divorce—that is, those who remain
married are the survivors. Still, the research is
consistent enough to suggest that marriage is very
satisfying for most people in old age.
How do sibling relationships change in
later life? There is a life course pattern to sibling
relationships. Many siblings feel close as young
children, then drift apart to attend to the needs of
their own families. As siblings grow older, they
often become close once again. Siblings mostly
provide emotional support but some, especially
sisters, also care for each other in old age.
What factors influence parent–child relationships
in later life, and what effect does
divorce have on these relationships? Relationships
established earlier in life affect the quality
of interaction between parents and children
in later life. Children who recall their childhood
in a positive way are more concerned about their
aging parents than those who perceived parental
rejection. People who have been divorced have
less contact with their adult children and report
less positive interaction than those who remain
married. Losing touch with children after a divorce
is especially a problem for men.
What factors influence the grandparent–grandchild relationship in later life, and
what effect does divorce have on this relationship?
The relationship between parents
and their children is often passed on to the
grandchildren. When parents and grandparents
are close, the grandchildren see their grandparents
more often and feel closer to them. When
parents divorce, the grandparent–grandchild relationship
is affected. The paternal grandparents
are most likely to lose contact with their
grandchildren. Divorce does not necessarily
mean a severing of familial ties, however, for
some parents remain close to their former
daughters-in-law. With the divorce and remarriage
of parents, family ties may multiply.
What kinds of social support do older gay
men and women depend on? Some gay men
and women become alienated from their families if
family members disapprove of their lifestyles. They
may plan for aging by creating a support system of
friends and significant others. However, many gay
men and women play special roles in their own
families, as caretakers of aging parents.
Is friendship a good source of support in
later life? Friends form a special part of an
individual’s support network. Whereas family
relationships are dictated by obligations
and responsibilities, friendships are voluntary,
pleasurable, and the primary source of
companionship.
