Social network type and social support among the old-old

Application of a unique social network inventory in a sample of persons age 75 and older in the Tel Aviv vicinity confirmed the presence of four disti nct network types: kin, family-intensive, friend-focused, and diffuse-ties. The kin network was found to offer the greatest degree of support, and the family-intensive type, the least. The network type construct proved to be a significant predictor of social support even when taking into account res pondents' living arrangements, physical disability level, and personal copi ng resources.