Heterogeneity in the social networks of young and older adults: Predictionof mental health and cardiovascular reactivity during acute stress

We examined the utility of a broad framework that separated positive, negat ive, and ambivalent social network members. One hundred thirty-three voting and older participants completed the social relationships index, measures of mental health, and a cardiovascular reactivity protocol. Results replica ted prior research on the beneficial influence of positive (supportive) tie s on psychological outcomes. More important, analyses also revealed that th e number of ambivalent network ties predicted age-related differences in de pression and sympathetic control of heart rate reactivity during stress. Th e statistical interactions between age and ambivalent ties on cardiovascula r responses during stress were not changed when statistically controlling f or other social network categories, demographic variables, and various pers onality factors. These data suggest that social network ambivalence was a r elatively unique predictor of cardiovascular reactivity and highlight the u tility of separating the variance due to positive, negative, and ambivalent network ties. Implications for the study of social relationships, physiolo gical processes, and health outcomes are also discussed.