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Updated: Nov 27, 2025

Assessment of Social Interaction Behaviors
Published on: February 25, 2011
Senior Center Service Utilization: Do Social Ties Affect Participation Patterns?
Laura Keyes1, Qiwei Li1, Brian Collins1
1University of North Texas, Denton, USA.
Purpose:
A better understanding of service utilization patterns at senior service centers can improve program development and constituent usage.
Theory:
This research examines whether participation in senior center activities is a function of senior socialization that reinforces and supports existing social ties by selecting specific activities in senior centers.
Methods:
A total of 924 participants of senior centers in a municipality in the Southwest were surveyed.
Results:
We find that having closer friends influences participation in certain senior center services. We also find that gender, race, ethnicity, and income also explain different usage rates beyond age.
Conclusion:
Opportunities to foster social interaction to grow and reduce barriers to participation and market to a broader range of current and potential participants are discussed.
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