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Social relations: network, support and relational strain

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  • Due, Pernille
  • Holstein, Bjørn
  • Lund, Rikke
  • Modvig, Jens
  • Avlund, Kirsten

Abstract

We introduce a conceptual framework with social relations as the main concept and the structure and the function of social relations as subconcepts. The structure of social relations covers aspects of formal relations and social network. The function of social relations covers social support, social anchorage and relational strain. We use this conceptual framework to describe social relations in the Danish population, with questionnaire data from the Danish Longitudinal Health Behaviour Study including a random sample of each of the age groups 25-, 50-, 60- and 70-year olds, N=2,011. The postal questionnaires were answered by a random sample in each of the age groups. The results show marked age and gender differences in both the structure and the function of social relations. The social network, measured as weekly contacts, weakens with age and so does instrumental support. Emotional support is unrelated to this decline in contact frequency and appears to be at the same level for younger and older individuals. Relational strain, measured as conflicts, declines with age for all kinds of social relations. The weakening of the social network with age does not seem to affect the level of emotional support and in turn seems to be partly compensated for by a simultaneous decline in relational strain.

Suggested Citation

  • Due, Pernille & Holstein, Bjørn & Lund, Rikke & Modvig, Jens & Avlund, Kirsten, 1999. "Social relations: network, support and relational strain," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 48(5), pages 661-673, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:48:y:1999:i:5:p:661-673
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    Cited by:

    1. Shiovitz-Ezra, Sharon & Litwin, Howard, 2012. "Social network type and health-related behaviors: Evidence from an American national survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(5), pages 901-904.
    2. Hunter, Janine & van Blerk, Lorraine & Shand, Wayne, 2021. "The influence of peer relationships on young people's sexual health in Sub-Saharan African street contexts," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    3. Brolin Låftman, Sara & Östberg, Viveca, 2006. "The pros and cons of social relations: An analysis of adolescents' health complaints," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(3), pages 611-623, August.
    4. Yasemin Yildirim & Seher Kocabiyik, 2010. "The relationship between social support and loneliness in Turkish patients with cancer," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(5‐6), pages 832-839, March.
    5. Zeng, Cheng & Xue, Yumei & Huang, Yuke, 2021. "Fractal networks with Sturmian structure," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 574(C).
    6. Chun-Yao Tseng & Su-Chin Lin, 2014. "An Investigation on Network Relationship of Elderly Nursing Home," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 6(11), pages 874-883.
    7. Terese Sara Høj Jørgensen & Rikke Lund & Volkert Dirk Siersma & Charlotte Juul Nilsson, 2018. "Interplay between financial assets and social relations on decline in physical function and mortality among older people," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 133-142, June.
    8. Tüzin Baycan & Özge Öner, 2023. "The dark side of social capital: a contextual perspective," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 70(3), pages 779-798, June.
    9. Helle Johnsen & Mette Juhl & Bodil Kirstine Møller & Vibeke de Lichtenberg, 2022. "Adult Daughters of Alcoholic Parents—A Qualitative Study of These Women’s Pregnancy Experiences and the Potential Implications for Antenatal Care Provision," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-16, March.
    10. Nasser Saad Al Kahtani & Sulphey M. M., 2022. "A Study on How Psychological Capital, Social Capital, Workplace Wellbeing, and Employee Engagement Relate to Task Performance," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    11. Andersen, Poul Houman, 2006. "Listening to the global grapevine: SME export managers' personal contacts as a vehicle for export information generation," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 81-96, February.
    12. Helle Johnsen & Ulla Christensen & Mette Juhl & Sarah Fredsted Villadsen, 2020. "Contextual Factors Influencing the MAMAACT Intervention: A Qualitative Study of Non-Western Immigrant Women’s Response to Potential Pregnancy Complications in Everyday Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-16, February.
    13. Elif Kısar Koramaz, 2014. "The Spatial Context of Social Integration," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 119(1), pages 49-71, October.
    14. Ferlander, Sara & Mäkinen, Ilkka Henrik, 2009. "Social capital, gender and self-rated health. Evidence from the Moscow Health Survey 2004," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(9), pages 1323-1332, November.
    15. Mahmud Z. Y & Minhat H. S & Mahmud A., 2015. "Socio-demographic determinants of leisure participation among female academicians in universiti putra malaysia," Journal of Advances in Health and Medical Sciences, Balachandar S. Sayapathi, vol. 1(1), pages 01-14.
    16. Charlotte Juul Nilsson & Signe Nørgaard & Else Foverskov & Helle Bruunsgaard & Per Kragh Andersen & Rikke Lund, 2020. "Positive and negative aspects of social relations and low-grade inflammation in Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 531-546, December.
    17. Francesco Billari & Alexia Prskawetz & Belinda Aparicio Diaz & Thomas Fent, 2007. "The "Wedding-Ring"," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 17(3), pages 59-82.
    18. Morita, Ayako & Takano, Takehito & Nakamura, Keiko & Kizuki, Masashi & Seino, Kaoruko, 2010. "Contribution of interaction with family, friends and neighbours, and sense of neighbourhood attachment to survival in senior citizens: 5-year follow-up study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(4), pages 543-549, February.
    19. Mette Rasmussen & Charlotte Meilstrup & Pernille Bendtsen & Trine Pedersen & Line Nielsen & Katrine Madsen & Bjørn Holstein, 2015. "Perceived problems with computer gaming and Internet use are associated with poorer social relations in adolescence," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 60(2), pages 179-188, February.

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