When Do Friends Matter? Moderators of the Association Between Social Support from Friends and Depressive Symptoms
2024
When Do Friends Matter? Moderators of the Association Between Social Support from Friends and Depressive Symptoms
Sample size: 6304
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Yu Xinfang, Ang Shannon
Primary Institution: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Hypothesis
The association between social support from friends and depressive symptoms is contingent on factors such as age and family support.
Conclusion
The protective effects of friend support on depressive symptoms decrease with age and greater family support.
Supporting Evidence
- Older adults are increasingly relying on friendships for support as family sizes shrink.
- The relationship between social support from friends and depressive symptoms is influenced by age and family support.
- The protective effects of friend support diminish with increasing age.
Takeaway
As people get older, having friends to support them is still helpful, but it matters less if they also have family support.
Methodology
The study used three waves of data from a nationally representative study of older adults in China and estimated growth curve models with interaction terms.
Participant Demographics
Older adults aged 60 years and above in China.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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