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T C Antonucci

Publications and source records attributed to T C Antonucci.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Social relations and depressive symptomatology: self-efficacy as a mediator.

This study investigates general and social self-efficacy as possible mediators of the relationship between quantity and quality of social relations and depressive symptomatology. Mediation models were examined using a regionally representative sample of middle-aged (35-59) and older adults (60+). Hierarchical regression analyses, controlling for age, race, sex, education, health, and family composition, revealed partial mediation for several social relations predictor variables. Whereas general self-efficacy acted as a partial mediator for only middle-aged adults, social self-efficacy was a partial mediator between social relations and depressive symptomatology only among older adults. Findings suggest that self-efficacy may function as a mechanism through which social relations influence depressive symptoms, and that the importance of this mechanism as domain-specific or domain-general may vary with age.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Social networks among blacks and whites: the interaction between race and age.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the main and interactive effects of age and race on the core characteristics of social networks including size, frequency of contact, geographical proximity, and composition of network. METHODS: Respondents were drawn from a stratified probability sample of people aged 20-93 in the greater Detroit metropolitan area. Approximately 30% of the sample were African American, and people aged 60 and older were over-sampled (n = 1.382). The authors used hierarchical regression analysis to estimate the influence of race and age on each component of social network, controlling for marital status, gender, and education. An interaction term (Race x Age) was added to explore the extent to which age moderates any detected race differences. RESULTS: Older age was associated with smaller, less frequently seen, and less proximal networks that had a higher proportion of kin. Blacks and Whites were similar with regard to proximity, but Blacks had smaller networks, more contact with network members, and more family members in their networks. Race differences in frequency of contact and proportion of kin were moderated by age, such that the differences in these variables diminished with increasing age. DISCUSSION: A systematic analysis of how age, race, and their interaction influence the characteristics of social networks furnishes important empirical knowledge about social networks among diverse groups. Such data may provide a context for how, and some explanation for why, support exchanges occur.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Widowhood and illness: a comparison of social network characteristics in France, Germany, Japan, and the United States.

This study examined social network characteristics of adults aged 70 to 90 years in relation to widowhood and illness in France, Germany, Japan, and the United States. Participants were drawn from representative samples from each of the 4 countries (total N = 1,331). Resource deficit profiles based on whether respondents were widowed, ill, both, or neither were directly related to social network characteristics for German and Japanese adults, were differentially related by gender and age for French adults, and were not related to social networks of Americans. Country, gender, and age differences in total network size, proportion of close network members, and frequency of contact with network members are reported. Similarities and differences found in the associations between normative late-life deficits and social network characteristics in the 4 countries point to the importance of investigating sociocultural factors that mediate the impact of resource loss and afford life quality in very old age.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Psychological disorder and mortality in French older adults: do social relations modify the association?

The possible modifying effect of social relations on the association between depression and mortality was examined in a community-based cohort study. A total of 3,777 randomly selected persons 65 years of age and older in southwest France were followed over a 5-year period from 1988 in the Personnes Agees Quid (PAQUID). At study entry, the prevalence of elevated depressive symptomatology was 12.9% for men and 14.7% for women, and the reported relative isolation was 14.1% for men and 26.0% for women. During a total of 16,984 person-years of follow-up, 849 deaths occurred. Among participants with high levels of depressive symptomatology, the age-adjusted mortality rate ratio was 2.10 (95% confidence interval 1.7-2.7) in men and 1.76 (95% confidence interval 1.4-2.3) in women. When compared with individuals with the most connections, men and women with few social network connections were also at increased risk of mortality: age-adjusted rate ratio = 2.69 (95% confidence interval 1.9-3.8) for men and 1.56 (95% confidence interval 1.0-2.4) for women. Satisfaction with social support had a small but nonsignificant effect on mortality risk. For women, the excess risks due to depressive symptoms and few network connections are observed only in the 65- to 74-year age group, after adjusting for health and health behaviors. Social relations did not significantly modify the depression-mortality associations for either men or women, although the depression-mortality effect was reduced by 12.8% in men. The latter findings do not appear to be compatible with the buffering hypothesis, whereby we would expect social relations to decrease the depression-mortality association. Nonetheless, there are independent effects from these two factors, and older men who are depressed and not socially connected are at increased risk of dying earlier.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Satisfaction with social networks: an examination of socioemotional selectivity theory across cohorts.

This study examines L. L. Carstensen's (1993, 1995) socioemotional selectivity theory within and across three cohorts spanning 4 decades. Socioemotional selectivity theory predicts that as individuals age, they narrow their social networks to devote more emotional resources to fewer relationships with close friends and family. Data from 3 cohorts of nationally representative samples were analyzed to determine whether respondents' satisfaction with the size of their social networks differed by age, cohort, or both. Results support socioemotional selectivity theory: More older adults than younger adults were satisfied with the current size of their social networks rather than wanting larger networks. These findings are consistent across all cohorts. Results are discussed with respect to social relationships across the life course.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

Social relations and depressive symptomatology in a sample of community-dwelling French older adults.

This study examined the association between social relations and mental health, specifically the relative contribution of social networks and social support to depressive symptomatology. The culturally unique representative sample consisted of 3,777 noninstitutionalized older persons living in southwestern France. The findings indicated that French older adults generally had more than 8 people in their networks, their networks consisted mostly of family members, and they felt understood by most of their network members. These older adults reported being satisfied with their social relations. Sociodemographic variables contribute (R2 = .143) to depressive symptomatology, as did social network (incremented R2 = .033) and social support (incremented R2 = .09) variables. Sociodemographic, social network, and social support variables together increased the variance explained still further (incremented R2 = .108). Results were consistent with similar analyses in the U.S. and indicated that social support variables account for more variance in depressive symptomatology than social network variables.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1996

Same-sex and cross-sex relationships.

This study examines same-sex and cross-sex close relationships of older adults using a national probability sample survey. Specifically, we focus on three relational characteristics: psychological closeness, geographical proximity, and support exchange. These characteristics are examined with four types of close relationships: spouse, children, siblings, and friends. Results indicate that although older persons tend to have more women in the network and receive more support from those women, they are not necessarily closer, either psychologically or geographically, to the women than to the men in their network. The data also suggest a noticeable shift from same-sex alliance to female salience in the networks when older men, as well as women, become widowed and require more support. The findings are discussed in light of three principles which have guided research on sex differences in close relationships: relation hierarchy, femaleness, and sex commonality.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Gender differences in the link between marital support and satisfaction in older couples.

Recent work on social support in marriage indicates that the link between marital satisfaction and social support is stronger for wives than husbands (D. Julien & H. J. Markman, 1991). Hypotheses based on these findings and on studies of interpersonal perception were tested on a sample of 69 older married couples (mean age = 74 years). The separate effects of giving, receiving, and reciprocity on spouses' marital satisfaction and well-being were examined. Analyzing the data separately for husbands and wives reveals that perceptions of social support in marriage are more strongly related to the marital satisfaction and general well-being of wives than husbands. Methodological and theoretical interpretations are offered that shed light on the differences between men and women in the meaning of social support in marriage.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

The co-occurrence of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment in a French community: are there gender differences.

The cross-sectional data are reported for co-occurrence of depressive symptomatology and cognitive impairment from the first wave of a longitudinal study of normal and pathological aging in a representative sample of 2792 older adults (> or = 65) residing in the Aquitaine Region (Bordeaux) of Southwest France. The prevalence rate for co-occurrence was 4.2% for men and 6.2% for women. Co-occurrence was associated with age, no or little education, functional impairment and dissatisfaction with social support for both men and women, though men were at higher risk than women for the latter two factors, and women were at higher risk than men for no or little education. Women over the age of 85 years were at increased risk whereas men were not, and marital status was associated with co-occurrence for men but had no effect for women. These findings indicate that the risk of co-occurrence differs for men and women, and that, with the exception of social support, the correlates we examined play different roles according to gender.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Depressive symptomatology and cognitive functioning: an epidemiological survey in an elderly community sample in France.

As part of a 5-year, prospective, epidemiological survey of normal and pathological ageing, this cross-sectional analysis examines the relationship between depressive symptomatology (CES-D) and cognitive functioning (MMS) in a community sample of 2792 non-institutionalized persons (age greater than or equal to 65) living in Southwest France. Of the sample, 13.4%, report depressive symptoms above the cut-off. A significant association was found between CES-D and MMS scores, but after adjusting for age, living arrangements, and especially functional limitations, the relationship remained strong only for women.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1990

A causal analysis of employment and health in midlife women.

According to the "healthy worker" hypothesis, good health selects women into the employment role; conversely, the social causation hypothesis argues that important social roles such as employment can contribute to health. The relationship between these two variables may be of special concern to women at midlife, as both issues become increasingly salient. In this paper a model hypothesizing a nonrecursive (reciprocal) causal relationship between employment (hours employed) and health was presented. Because of the importance of both employment and health for women at midlife, the model was tested in a sample of 463 women ages 40-64 from a national cross-sectional dataset. Two-stage least squares regression supported the hypothesis that employment and health have a positive reciprocal relationship for women at midlife. In addition, married women and those with a child had better health but were likely to work fewer hours for pay. The same model tested in 21 to 39-year-old women was not significant. The results serve to emphasize the importance of examining assumptions about direction of causality in research on work and well-being at midlife.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Age differences in productive activities.

Age differences in productive contributions through both paid and unpaid work are examined in commensurate terms. Data are from a nationwide household survey of 3,617 adults age 25 and older conducted in 1986. Older Americans participate in many unpaid productive activities at levels that are comparable to those reached by middle-aged and younger Americans; these activities include volunteer work in organizations, informal help to others, maintenance and repair of their home and possessions, and housework. Relatively few older Americans spend any time participating in paid work and unpaid rearing of children. Largely because of the cessation of paid work and child care, older Americans spend less time overall in productive activities. Women and men spend about equal time in productive activities, but women spend more of it in unpaid work and less of it in paid work. The difficulties with using paid work as the major indicator for describing productivity across the life span are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1988

Reciprocal and nonreciprocal social support: contrasting sides of intimate relationships.

This study focused on the perception of reciprocal and nonreciprocal support within the natural support network of family and friends. Data from a national probability sample of 718 middle-aged and older adults were examined. Hypotheses based on equity theory were developed to test the effect of perceived reciprocated versus nonreciprocated confiding and sick care vis-à-vis spouse, children, and friends. Initial results indicated that the modal response for all age groups was reciprocated confiding and sick care. However, a closer examination revealed a complex pattern of the extent and effects of perceived support when considering different relationships. These findings are discussed within a life-course perspective with individuals providing and receiving support over time.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Social networks in adult life and a preliminary examination of the convoy model.

This paper examines the social support networks of older adults. Based upon the Kahn and Antonucci (1980) life course social support model, a national sample of adults aged 50 and older (N = 718) was interviewed, generating support networks consisting of an average of 8.9 members. The respondents were asked questions of the structural (e.g., age, sex, closeness, years known, proximity, and frequency of contact) and functional (number and type of supports provided and received) characteristics of their social networks. These characteristics and relationships are described in detail.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Social network characteristics and psychological well-being: a replication and extension.

This article represents a replication and extension of a previous study by Israel and her colleagues that investigated the relationship between psychological well-being and social network characteristics. The present research included both a comparable sample of white women (N = 104) between the ages of 60 and 68 (as in the original study), and a more extensive adult population of men and women (N = 718) between the ages of 50 and 95. The network characteristics examined are categorized along three broad dimensions: Structure--linkages in the overall network (size and density); interaction--nature of the linkages themselves (frequency, geographic dispersion, and reciprocity); and functions that networks provide (affective support and instrumental support). The results indicate a predominance of comparable findings for both the replication and extension studies. Of the eight network characteristics examined, the results of five of the regression analyses were the same across all three studies. The network characteristics of size, density, geographic dispersion, reciprocal instrumental support, and instrumental support did not make a significant contribution to the variance in psychological well-being. Of the other three network characteristics, the effect of frequency of interaction varied across the studies, and a pattern of significant results was found for affective support and reciprocal affective support. A discussion of this evidence in light of current literature and implications for practice and research is included.

Aged↗