Resources in Older Adults' Old and New Friendships

Abstract

This research investigated the exchange of resources in old and new friendships with a sample of twenty-seven older adults who had recently relocated to a retirement community. Using quantitative measures, the study documented specific short-term changes in resource exchange (love, status, information and services) and measured related changes in affection. Open-ended interviews were used to tap the participants' views of the importance of resource exchange in developing and maintaining friendships, the role of each resource in each friendship, and the differences between old and new friendships. Old friendships remained stable in resource exchange and affection, while newly developing friendships increased in both dimensions. Supporting the quantitative results, participants' comments emphasized continuity as an essential quality of old friendships. Participants also spoke about the somewhat different meanings of love, status, information and services in old and new friendships.

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