After completing this chapter, the student will be able to:

1. Define social support system and explain the effects gender and family structure have on it.
2. Explain how older Americans compare to other Americans in marital status.
3. Assess how marital satisfaction changes over the life course.
4. Define how sibling relationships change in later life.
5. Identify factors that influence parent-child relationships in later life and describe the effects divorce has on these relationships.
6. Identify factors that influence the grandparent-grandchild relationship in later life and describe the effects divorce has on these relationships.
7. Define kinds of social support that older gay men and women depend on.
8. Explain how friendship is a good source of support in later life.