A review of the research on aging and friendship reveals distinct patterns by gender that are linked to sex role learning and expectations. Friendship behaviors that are adaptive at one part of the life course may be dysfunctional at another. In old age, it appears that the interpersonal skills of women are highly functional, allowing them greater flexibility in the construction of social networks than is the case for old men.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Atchley, R. C.1976"Selected social and psychological differences between men and women in later life."J. of Gerontology31: 204-211.
2.
Babchuk, N.1965"Primary friends and kin: a study of the associations of middle-class couples."Social Forces43: 483-493.
3.
Babchuk, N.
and A. P. Bates1963"The primary relations of middle-class couples: a study in male dominance."Amer. Soc. Rev.28: 377-384.
4.
Bell, R. R.1977Manuscript. Philadelphia: Temple University. (unpublished)
5.
Bell, R. R.
and W. Jones 1976 "The adult male sex role and resistance to change." Presented at the National Council on Family Relations, New York City, October.
6.
Bender, V. L.
, Y. Davis, O. Glover, and J. Stapp1976"Patterns of self-disclosure in homosexual and heterosexual college students."Sex Roles2: 149-159.
7.
Berghorn, F. J.
, D. E. Schafer, G. H. Steere, and R. F. Wiseman1978The Urban Elderly: A Study of Life Satisfaction. Montclair, NJ: Allenheld Osmun.
8.
Bernard, J.1976"Homosociality and female depression."J. of Social Issues32: 213-238.
9.
Blau, Z. S.1973Old Age in a Changing Society. New York: Franklin Watts.
10.
Bock, E. W.1972"Aging and suicide: the significance of marital, kinship and alternative relations."Family Coordinator21: 71-79.
11.
Bock, E. W.
and I. L. Webber1972"Suicide among the elderly: isolating widowhood and mitigating alternatives."J. of Marriage and the Family34: 24-31.
12.
1972bRejoinder to Tiger
. Amer. Soc. Rev.37: 637.
13.
Booth, A.
and N. Babchuk1969"Personal influence networks and voluntary association affiliation."Soc. Inquiry39: 179-188.
14.
Booth, A.
and E. Hess1974"Cross-sex friendship."J. of Marriage and the Family36: 38-47.
15.
Bott, E.1957Family and Social Network. London: Tavistock.
16.
Candy, S.E.G.1976 "A developmental exploration of the functions of friendship in women."
Presented at the Gerontological Society, New York City, October.
17.
Cantor, M.
1976 "The configuration and intensity of the informal support system in a New York City elderly population." Presented at the Gerontological Society, New York City, October.
18.
Cozby, P. C.1973"Self-disclosure: a literature review."Psych. Bull.79: 73-91.
19.
Creecy, R.
1975 "Environmental and structural effects on friendship in old age." Presented at the Gerontological Society, Louisville.
20.
Cumming, E.
and W. E. Henry, Jr.1961Growing Old: The Process of Disengagement. New York: Basic Books.
21.
Dunkle, R. E.1975 "Racial differences in the confidant relationship."
Presented at the Gerontological Society, Louisville.
22.
Fellin, P.
and E. Litwak1963"Neighborhood cohesion under conditions of mobility."Amer. Soc. Rev.28: 364-376.
23.
Gordon, M.
1976 "Primary group differentiation in urban Ireland." Presented at the American Sociological Association, New York City, August.
24.
Gove, W.1973"Sex, marital status and mortality."Amer. J. of Sociology79: 45-67.
25.
Graney, M. J.1975"Happiness and social participation in aging."J. of Gerontology30: 701-706.
26.
Granovetter, M. S.1973"The strength of weak ties."Amer. J. of Sociology78: 1360-1380.
27.
Hacker, H. M.
forthcoming "Blabbermouths and clams: sex differences in self disclosure in same-sex and cross-sex friendship dyads."Psychology of Women Q.
28.
1976 "Aging, sex roles and friendship." Presented at the Gerontological Society, New York City, October.
29.
Hess, B. B.
and J. Waring1978"Parent and child in later life: rethinking the relationship," in R. M. Lerner and G. B. Spanier (eds.) Child Influences on Marital and Family Interaction. New York: Academic Press.
30.
Huyck, M. H.
1976 "Sex, gender and aging." Presented at the Gerontological Society, New York City, October.
31.
Jacoby, S.1973"What do I do for the next twenty years?"New York Times Magazine, June 17.
32.
Jourard, S. M.1971The Transparent Self. New York: Litton.
33.
Kline, C.1975"The socialization process of women: implications for a theory of successful aging."Gerontologist15: 486-492.
34.
Komorovsky, M.1974"Patterns of self-disclosure of male undergraduates."J. of Marriage and the Family36: 677-686.
35.
Leis, N. B.1974"Women in groups: Ijaw women's associations," in M. Z. Rosaldo and L. Lamphere (eds.) Women, Culture and Society. Stanford, CA: Stanford Univ. Press.
36.
LeMasters, E. E.1975Blue Collar Aristocrats. Madison: Univ. of Wisconsin Press.
37.
Levy, L.1976"Self-help groups: types and psychological processes."J. of Applied Behavioral Sci.12: 310-322.
38.
Litwak, E.
and I. Szelenyi1969"Primary group structures and their functions: kin, neighbors, and friends."Amer. Soc. Rev.34: 465-481.
39.
Lopata, H. Z.1973aWidowhood in an American City. Cambridge, MA: Schenkman.
40.
Lowenthal, M. F.
and C. Haven1968"Interaction and adaptation: intimacy as a critical variable."Amer. Soc. Rev.33: 20-30.
41.
Lowenthal, M. F.
, M. Thurner, D. Chiriboga, et al.1975Four Stages of Life. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
42.
Lyness, J. F.
and L. R. Narus, Jr.1976 "Androgyny, sexuality and intimacy." Presented at the National Council on Family Relations, New York City, October.
43.
Maccoby, E. E.
and C. N. Jacklin1974The Psychology of Sex Differences. Stanford, CA: Stanford Univ. Press.
44.
Marciano, T. D.1974"Middle class incomes, working class hearts."Family Process13: 489-502.
45.
Miller, D. B.
and S. Beer 1975 "Patterns of friendship in a nursing home." Presented at the Gerontological Society, Louisville.
46.
Morgan, B. S.1976"Intimacy disclosure topics and sex differences in selfdisclosure."Sex Roles2: 161-166.
47.
Moss, M. S.
, L. I. Gottesman, and M. H. Kleban 1976 "Informal social relationships among community aged." Presented at the Gerontological Society, New York City, 1976.
48.
National Council on the Aging1974The Myth and Reality of Aging in America. A study by L. Harris and Associates. New York: NCoA.
49.
Nelson, J. I.1966"Clique contacts and family orientations."Amer. Soc. Rev.31: 663-672.
50.
O'Neill, S.
, D. Fein, K. M. Velit, and C. Frank1976"Sex differences in pre-adolescent self-disclosure."Sex Roles1: 85-88.
51.
Petrowsky, M.1976"Marital status, sex, and the social networks of the elderly."J. of Marriage and the Family38: 749-756.
52.
Phillips, D. L.1967"Social participation and happiness."Amer. J. of Sociology72: 479-488.
53.
Phillips, D. L.
and K. J. Clancy1972"Some effects of `social desirability' in survey studies."Amer. J. of Sociology77: 921-940.
54.
Powers, E. A.
and G. L. Bultena1976"Sex differences in intimate friendships of old age."J. of Marriage and the Family38: 739-747.
55.
Rosenkaimer, D.
, A. Saperstent, B. Ishizaki, and S. M. MacBride 1968 "Coping with age-sex differences." Presented at the Gerontological Society, New York City, October.
56.
Rosow, I.1967Social Integration of the Aged. New York: Free Press.
57.
Rossi, A. S.1977"A biosocial perspective on parenting."Daedelus, April, 1-31.
58.
Rubin, L. B.1976Worlds of Pain: Life in the Working Class Family. New York: Basic Books.
59.
Rutzen, R.
1977 "Varieties of social disengagement among the aged: a research report on correlates of primary socialization." Presented at the Eastern Sociological Society, New York City, March.
60.
Sherman, S. R.1975"Patterns of contacts for residents of age-segregated and age-integrated housing."J. of Gerontology30: 103-107.
61.
Shulman, N.1975"Life cycle variations in patterns of close friendship."J. of Marriage and the Family37: 813-821.
62.
Simmel, G.1906"Friendship, love and secrecy."
(Albion Small, trans.) Amer. J. of Sociology11: 457-466.
63.
Slater, P.1963"On social regression."Amer. Soc. Rev.28: 339-364.
64.
Smith-Rosenberg, C.1975"The female world of love and ritual: relations between women in nineteenth-century America."Signs1: 1-29.
65.
Spakes, P.
1976 "Social integration, age, and family participation." Presented at the Gerontological Society, New York City, October.
66.
Stein, P. J.
1976 "On same-sex and cross-sex friendships." Presented at National Council on Family Relations, New York City, October.
67.
Stephens, J.1976Loners, Losers, and Lovers. Seattle: Univ. of Washington Press.
68.
1972"Comment on Booth."Amer. Soc. Rev.37: 634-637.
69.
Trela, J. E.
and D. Jackson 1976 "Family life and substitutes in old age." Presented at the Gerontological Society, New York City, October.
70.
Troll, L. E.1971"The family of later life: a decade review."J. of Marriage and the Family33: 263-290.
71.
Verbrugge, L. M.
1976 "Multiplexity in adult friendships." Presented at the American Sociological Assn. New York City, August.
72.
Weiss, R. S.1969"The fund of sociability."Transaction/Society6: 36-43.
