Is Available Support Always Helpful for Older Adults? Exploring the Buffering Effects of State and Trait Social Support.

Wolff JK, Lindenberger U, Brose A, Schmiedek F (2016)

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2016

Journal

Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy B - Oxford Open Option D

Book Volume: 71

Pages Range: 23-34

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbu085

Abstract

OBJECTIVES\nAssociations between social support and health are studied since decades. Yet, little is known about how they vary by state versus trait aspects of support and by adult age. At trait and state level, the current study investigates direct associations between social support and health and whether support buffers the daily negative affect (NA)-health association in 2 age groups.\nMETHOD\nSeventy-nine younger and 88 older adults (OA) participated in 20 daily assessments of NA, health complaints (HC), and available support. On trait and state levels, 3 support facets-emotional, informational, and instrumental-were distinguished; social integration was assessed on the trait level.\nRESULTS\nFor OA, trait emotional support was associated with fewer HC. In both age groups, state informational support was related to more daily HC. Social integration buffered the daily NA-health association in younger adults (YA), whereas informational support amplified the same association in OA.\nDISCUSSION\nWe propose that 2 different mechanisms are relevant for younger and OA and at state and trait level. Although emotional support may be a resource for OA, informational support may enhance their daily complaints. YA seem to benefit from being socially integrated.

Authors with CRIS profile

Julia Katharina Wolff Institut für Psychogerontologie

Involved external institutions

Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung (MPIB) / Max Planck Institute for Human Development DE Germany (DE) Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin DE Germany (DE) Deutsches Institut für Internationale Pädagogische Forschung (DIPF) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Wolff, J.K., Lindenberger, U., Brose, A., & Schmiedek, F. (2016). Is Available Support Always Helpful for Older Adults? Exploring the Buffering Effects of State and Trait Social Support. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 71(1), 23-34. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbu085

MLA:

Wolff, Julia Katharina, et al. "Is Available Support Always Helpful for Older Adults? Exploring the Buffering Effects of State and Trait Social Support." Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 71.1 (2016): 23-34.

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