Alyssa W Goldman1, Benjamin Cornwell2. 1. Cornell University, Department of Sociology, 345 Uris Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853. 2. Cornell University, Department of Sociology, 342 Uris Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We examine whether racial and socioeconomic factors influence older adults' likelihood of experiencing instability in their social network ties with their adult children. BACKGROUND: Recent work shows that socially disadvantaged older adults' social networks are more unstable and exhibit higher rates of turnover, perhaps due to greater exposure to broader social-environmental instability. We consider whether this network instability applies to older adults' ties with their adult children, which are often the closest and most reliable social ties in later life. METHODS: We use two waves of data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N=1,456), a nationally representative, longitudinal study of older Americans. Through a series of multivariate regression models, we examine how race and education are associated with how frequently older adults reported being in contact with child network members, and how likely older adults were to stop naming their children as network members over time. RESULTS: African American and less educated individuals reported significantly more frequent contact with their adult child network members than did whites and more educated individuals. Nevertheless, these populations were also more likely to stop naming their children as network confidants over time. CONCLUSION: African American and less educated older adults are at greater risk of losing access to the supports and other resources that are often provided by adult children, or of not being able to consistently draw on them as they age, despite the fact that these ties demonstrate greater potential for support exchange at baseline.
OBJECTIVE: We examine whether racial and socioeconomic factors influence older adults' likelihood of experiencing instability in their social network ties with their adult children. BACKGROUND: Recent work shows that socially disadvantaged older adults' social networks are more unstable and exhibit higher rates of turnover, perhaps due to greater exposure to broader social-environmental instability. We consider whether this network instability applies to older adults' ties with their adult children, which are often the closest and most reliable social ties in later life. METHODS: We use two waves of data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N=1,456), a nationally representative, longitudinal study of older Americans. Through a series of multivariate regression models, we examine how race and education are associated with how frequently older adults reported being in contact with child network members, and how likely older adults were to stop naming their children as network members over time. RESULTS: African American and less educated individuals reported significantly more frequent contact with their adult child network members than did whites and more educated individuals. Nevertheless, these populations were also more likely to stop naming their children as network confidants over time. CONCLUSION: African American and less educated older adults are at greater risk of losing access to the supports and other resources that are often provided by adult children, or of not being able to consistently draw on them as they age, despite the fact that these ties demonstrate greater potential for support exchange at baseline.
Entities:
Keywords:
aging; education; family relations; inequalities; parent-child relationships; race
Authors: Benjamin Cornwell; L Philip Schumm; Edward O Laumann; Juyeon Kim; Young-Jin Kim Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2014-11 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Benjamin Cornwell; L Philip Schumm; Edward O Laumann; Alyssa W Goldman; Ellen L Compernolle Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2021-12-17 Impact factor: 4.077