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Social Support, Social Strain, and Self-Perceptions of Aging
1Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Research on Aging
|June 27, 2025
Summary
Social relationships significantly impact self-perceptions of aging (SPA). Spousal support positively affects SPA, while strain from family and friends surprisingly enhances positive aging perceptions in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Social Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Self-perceptions of aging (SPA) are crucial for well-being in later life.
- Social relationships are known to influence psychological states, but their specific impact on SPA requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal, bidirectional associations between social support and strain from various sources (spouses, children, family, friends) and self-perceptions of aging (SPA).
- To understand how changes in social relationships influence changes in SPA over time.
Main Methods:
- Utilized random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) to analyze within-person changes.
- Employed longitudinal data from 22,160 older adults spanning twelve years (2008-2020) from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).
Main Results:
- A bidirectional, positive association was found between spousal support and SPA.
- Higher spousal strain correlated with lower SPA, but spousal strain did not predict changes in SPA.
- Unexpectedly, increased strain from other family members and friends was linked to more positive SPA; support from these sources had no effect.
- Child support and strain showed no relationship with SPA.
Conclusions:
- Social relationships exhibit complex, differential effects on self-perceptions of aging.
- Spousal support is a key factor in maintaining positive aging views, while strain from broader social networks may paradoxically foster resilience.
- Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms (cognitive, psychological, physiological) connecting social relationships and SPA.
Keywords:
attitude towards own agingclose relationshipslongitudinal analysissocial strainsocial supportMore Related Videos
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