Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 17, 2025
09:19
Community-based Adapted Tango Dancing for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Older Adults
Published on: December 9, 2014
26.1K
Happily partnered older adults' relationship-enhancing behaviours
Alison Rahn1,2, Cary Bennett2, Tiffany Jones3,4
1Sociology Department, School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
Australasian Journal on Ageing
|June 23, 2020
Summary
Relationship quality significantly enhances well-being in older adults. Promoting healthy ageing requires supporting quality relationships and developing targeted interventions for older couples.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Social Sciences
- Public Health
Background:
- Active ageing discourse often overlooks relationship quality's impact on older adults' well-being.
- Relationship quality is consistently linked to various health outcomes in older populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore relationship-enhancing behaviours among older adults.
- To highlight the role of relationship quality as a social determinant of healthy ageing.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional online survey of 168 partnered baby boomers (born 1946-1965).
- Mixed-methods analysis of 36 qualitative and quantitative questions.
Main Results:
- Participants (mean age 62, 85% women) reported behaviours like verbal/non-verbal cues, physical affection, and sexual activities.
- A shared bed was identified as a key relationship setting.
Conclusions:
- High relationship quality in older adults is linked to improved personal well-being.
- Health policies and programs should support older adults' relationship quality.
- Targeted relationship interventions for health settings are recommended.
Related Concept Videos
02:12Relationship Formation
45.1K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
45.1K
03:34Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
48.5K
Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
48.5K
01:27Relationship Growth
135
Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
135
01:30Social Relationships and Well-Being
175
The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
175
01:27Companionate Love
178
Companionate love is a fundamental aspect of long-term relationships, characterized by deep affection, mutual respect, and emotional intimacy. Unlike passionate love, which is driven by intense emotions and physical attraction but often declines over time, companionate love remains stable and can even strengthen with shared experiences and commitment. Psychological and biological mechanisms underpin this enduring form of love, influencing relationship longevity and satisfaction.Stability and...
178
01:28Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity
162
Reciprocity in attraction is fundamental to social and romantic relationships, shaping how individuals form and maintain connections. The psychological principle underlying this phenomenon is that people tend to like those who express liking toward them. Balance theory supports this tendency, suggesting that mutual attraction fosters psychological harmony, whereas one-sided affection leads to discomfort and cognitive dissonance.The Psychological Mechanisms Behind ReciprocityWhen individuals...
162