UC Irvine

A prevailing view exists in the literature that having a variety of relationship types (i.e., diverse social ties) is more consequential for health and activity than the sheer number of social ties. Empirical tests of that claim are relatively scarce, however, and relationship quality is rarely taken into account. The current study contrasted the implications of number and diversity of positive, as well as ambivalent, social ties for functional limitations and leisure activity in later life. Participants (N = 874) were part of the Later Life Study of Social Exchanges (LLSSE), a longitudinal study of a nationally representative sample of older adults ages 65 to 91 (M = 74.12 years old, SD = 6.64). Baseline data from in-person interviews were examined in a series of hierarchical regression models. Number of ties was a more consistent predictor of functional limitations than was diversity of ties (albeit in opposite directions for positive and ambivalent ties), but they did not significantly differ in terms of magnitude. Number of positive ties was a significantly stronger predictor of leisure activity compared to diversity of positive ties, whereas ambivalent ties were not related to leisure activity. Contrary to prevailing views, these findings suggest that variety is not necessarily more important than quantity. Rather, a greater number of positive social ties may be most important for older adults’ health and activity.