The relationship between individual characteristics, behavioral motifs, and interactive friendship processes among older relocated adults

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Elizabeth Dugan (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Vira R. Kivett

Abstract: An integrative conceptual framework for friendship research was proposed by Adams and Blieszner (1994). Their framework states that individual characteristics, expressed through a behavioral motif, affect friendship patterns, and that friendship patterns vary by the structural and cultural context. The purpose of this study was to determine if the conceptual framework can explain variation in the friendships of older adults. A cross-sectional survey design was used to assess interactive processes of a random sample of older urban and rural relocated adults in North Carolina (N=282). It was hypothesized that: (1.) Individual characteristics (e.g., age, gender, education, marital status, and health) would predict affective, behavioral, and cognitive processes and frequency of contact, a proxy measure of processes. (2.) Behavioral motif (e.g., social involvement, proximity) would moderate the relationship between individual characteristics and friendship processes and frequency of contact. (3.) The relationship of individual characteristics and behavioral motif to interactive friendship processes of older relocated adults would vary with the structural and cultural context (e.g., rural, urban). Stepwise and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses. Mixed support was found for the first hypothesis. No support was found for the second hypothesis. Limited support was found for hypothesis three.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 1996
Subjects
Friendship
Older people $x Social networks

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