SOCIAL SUPPORT FROM FRIENDS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG ELDERLY PERSONS - MODERATOR EFFECTS OF AGE

In this study, the relationships among age, sex, friend support, and p sychological distress are examined among elderly persons. Structural e quation modeling and a longitudinal design are used to examine direct, indirect, and moderator (interaction) effects over a 22-month interva l. Findings suggest that different causal processes operate among pers ons over the age of 70 (old-old) and those 50 to 70 years (young-old); the cross-lagged effects of friend support on distress and of distres s on friend support are only observed in the older group. Compared to the young-old, the old-old receive less friend support at time 2 (T2) if they experienced psychological distress at time 1 (T1), and the old -old are more distressed at T2 if they received low levels of support at T1. As a result of this age interaction, the total effects of sex o n distress and support at T2 are twice as large in the sample of old-o ld persons as in the sample of young-old persons. Such findings sugges t that the old-old in general and old-old men in particular are especi ally vulnerable to psychological distress when losing friend support, and to lose friend support when experiencing psychological distress. I mplications of these and other findings are discussed.