ERIC Number: EJ686637
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Aug
Pages: 17
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-2445
EISSN: N/A
The Best of Ties, the Worst of Ties: Close, Problematic, and Ambivalent Social Relationships
Fingerman, Karen L.; Hay, Elizabeth L.; Birditt, Kira S.
Journal of Marriage and Family, v66 n3 p792-808 Aug 2004
This study builds on research addressing intergenerational ambivalence by considering emotional ambivalence toward the wider social network. Men and women ages 13 to 99 (N=187) completed diagrams of their close and problematic social relationships. Social ties were classified as solely close, solely problematic, or ambivalent, based on network placement (n=3,392 social contacts). Multilevel models revealed that individuals viewed certain close familial ties (e.g., spouse, son or daughter, parent, sibling) with greater ambivalence than they viewed more distal family ties, friendships, or acquaintances. Participants classified more acquaintances than other relationships as solely problematic. Feeling closer to a social partner was associated with increased ambivalence. Older adults were more likely to classify their relationships as solely close than as ambivalent, in comparison with younger adults. Discussion focuses on tension and closeness in familial and nonfamilial relationships.
Descriptors: Social Networks, Parent Child Relationship, Interpersonal Relationship, Family Relationship, Age Differences
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A