Title
Social exchanges and subjective well-being : do sources of positive and negative exchanges matter?
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Journals of Gerontology. Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences
Publication Date
11-1-2011
Volume
66B
Issue
6
First Page
708
Last Page
718
Keywords
Chinese older adults, Kinship, Negative exchanges, Positive exchanges, Social network, Subjective well-being
Abstract
Objectives: To decompose the effects of positive and negative social exchanges on well-being in terms of relationship type (vertically extended family, horizontally extended family, or nonfamily) and subjective closeness (close vs. peripheral).
Methods: One thousand and five Chinese older adults rated each network member on positive and negative exchanges, which were aggregated for each relationship type and closeness category. Regression analyses estimated the influences of positive and negative exchanges on well-being, controlling for network size, health, and demographic factors.
Results: Social exchanges with close and peripheral vertical family members as well as close horizontal family members were associated with well-being, whereas exchanges with nonkin did not contribute independent effects. These results were similar for both positive and negative exchanges.
Discussion: Well-being is determined not just by social exchanges but also by where they come from. In this regard, the vertical family, the horizontal family, and the nonfamily represent a hierarchy of preference for Chinese older adults, which, to some extent, reflects the influence of familism.
DOI
10.1093/geronb/gbr061
Print ISSN
10795014
E-ISSN
17585368
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2011 The Gerontological Society of America
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Cheng, S.-T., Li, K.-K., Leung, E. M. F., & Lee, J.-J. (2011). Social exchanges and subjective well-being: Do sources of positive and negative exchanges matter? Journals of Gerontology. Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences, 66B(6), 708-718. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbr061
