Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

Important relationships in a multilevel world

The role of network structure in explaining closeness of relationships and access to resources in later life

Bibliographic Data

ID2927445
AuthorsMahin Raissi (0000-0003-4475-4181, Australian National University, corresponding author), Robert Ackland (0000-0002-0008-1766, Australian National University)
Year2021
Volume38
Issue9
Pages2442-2464
Publication date2021-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social and Personal Relationships (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0265-4075 • E-ISSN: 1460-3608
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/02654075211009311
OpenAlexW3156112755
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited69

We examine why some relationships are more important than others, using a multilevel statistical model and data on personal networks of Australians 50 years and older, collected via a purpose-built Facebook application. While the network data were collected automatically, participants in our study provided data on the importance of their relationships, measured by perceived closeness and access to resources. We find that the information on how network members are connected with each other (network structure) provides powerful insights into what makes a relationship important. When importance is measured by closeness of relationship, important alters are kin, and are alters who are highly connected with others or act as bridges between different groups. When importance is measured by access to resources, important alters are those who act as bridges and are in more densely-knit networks. We discuss our findings in a broader context of research into important relationships in later life, and collecting personal network data via online social networks

Closeness · Context (archaeology · Data science · Geography · Multilevel model · Personal network · Social media · Social network (sociolinguistics · Social science · Sociology · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Health disparities and outcomes · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Psychology · Social Capital and Networks · Social Psychology

  • Acts of Good Neighborliness as Pathways to Social Cohesion in South African Communities

    Open Access•Nicolette Vanessa Roman, Olaniyi Joshua Olabiyi et al.•Societies•2026

  • All in the family? Understanding differences in the kin-centricity of older US adults’ core discussion networks from classic age, period, and cohort table estimates

    Open Access•E L Compernolle, A W Goldman et al.•Social Science Research•2025

  • Important relationships in a multilevel world

    Open Access•Mahin Raissi, Robert Ackland•Journal of Social and Personal…•2021

  • To dwell among friends

    Claude S Fischer•To dwell among friends•1982

  • Social Network Analysis

    Open Access•Stanley Wasserman, Katherine Faust•Social Network Analysis•1994

  • Do online social media cut through the constraints that limit the size of offline social networks?

    Open Access•R I M Dunbar•Royal Society Open Science•2016

  • Close Encounters

    R Reagans•Organization Science•2011

  • Social Relations and Technology

    Open Access•Toni C Antonucci, Kristine J Ajrouch et al.•Innovation in Aging•2017

  • An end to the wild west of social media research

    Cornelius Puschmann•Information Communication & Society•2019

  • Creation and Returns of Social Capital

    Thomas Snijders, Henk Flap et al.•Creation and Returns of Social…•2004

  • Social Capital

    Open Access•Nan Lin, Bonnie Erickson•Social Capital•2001

  • Social control, social support, and companionship in older adults' family relationships and friendships

    Open Access•Karen S Rook, Philip H G Ituarte•Personal Relationships•1999

  • Influentials, novelty, and social contagion

    Open Access•N M Harrigan, Nicholas Harrigan et al.•Social Networks•2012

  • Personality correlates of structural holes

    Open Access•R S Burt, Joseph E Jannotta et al.•Social Networks•1998

  • Closeness, loneliness, support

    Open Access•Jens F Binder, Jens Binder et al.•Social Networks•2012

  • The social structure of trust

    Open Access•Vincent Busken•Social Networks•1998

  • Ego's important discussants or significant people

    Open Access•Bruce C Straits•Social Networks•2000

  • Informant accuracy in social network data IV

    Open Access•H R Bernard, Peter D Killworth et al.•Social Networks•1979

  • The presentation of the networked self

    Open Access•A D''Angelo, Alessio D’angelo et al.•Social Networks•2019

  • It's not who you know, it's how you know them

    Open Access•Gabriele Plickert, Rochelle R Côté et al.•Social Networks•2007

  • The strength of family ties

    Eran Shor, David J Roelfs et al.•Social Networks•2013

  • Who benefits from network analysis

    Open Access•Charles Kadushin•Social Networks•2005

  • Assessing structural correlates to social capital in Facebook ego networks

    Brandon Brooks, B Hogan et al.•Social Networks•2014

  • Persistence of close personal ties over a 12-year period

    Open Access•J Levi Martins, John Levi Martin et al.•Social Networks•2006

  • Homogeneity in confiding relations

    Open Access•P V Marsden•Social Networks•1988

  • The structure of online social networks mirrors those in the offline world

    Open Access•R I M Dunbar, Valerio Arnaboldi et al.•Social Networks•2015

  • Friends, Friendsters, and Top 8

    Open Access•Drick Boyd, Danah Boyd•First Monday•2006

  • Spousal Loss and Health in Late Life

    Open Access•Aniruddha Das•Journal of Aging and Health•2012

  • Continued and New Personal Relationships in Later Life

    Open Access•Marjolein Broese Van Groenou, Marjolein I Broese Van Groenou et al.•Journal of Aging and Health•2012

  • Beyond the power of networks

    Open Access•Weixu Lu, Keith N Hampton•New Media & Society•2016

  • Supportive, Aversive, Ambivalent, and Indifferent Partner Evaluations in Midlife and Young-Old Adulthood

    Tim D Windsor, Peter Butterworth•The Journals of Gerontology…•2010

  • The Significance of Friendship for Women in Later Life

    Open Access•Dorothy Jerrome•Ageing and Society•1981

  • Age-segregation in later life

    Open Access•Peter Uhlenberg, Jenny De Jong Gierveld•Ageing and Society•2004

  • Does Distance Matter in the Age of the Internet

    Open Access•Diana Mok, B Wellman et al.•Urban Studies•2010

  • A Set of Measures of Centrality Based on Betweenness

    Linton C Freeman•Sociometry•1977

  • Taking time seriously

    Laura L Carstensen, Derek M Isaacowitz et al.•American Psychologist•1999

  • Exploring variation in active network size

    Open Access•Sam G B Robert, Sam G B Roberts et al.•Social Networks•2009

  • Multilevel analysis of personal networks as dependent variables

    Open Access•Marijtje Van Duijn, Jooske T Van Busschbach et al.•Social Networks•1999

  • A note on strangers, friends and happiness

    Open Access•R S Burt•Social Networks•1987

  • Commentary

    Open Access•Jennifer Badham, JENNIFER M BADHAM•Network Science•2013

  • Weak ties and the core discussion network

    Open Access•Mario Luis Small•Social Networks•2013

  • Name generators in surveys of personal networks

    Open Access•Karen E Campbell, Barrett A Lee•Social Networks•1991

  • Assessing the stability of egocentric networks over time using the digital participant-aided sociogram tool Network Canvas

    Open Access•B Hogan, P Janulis et al.•Network Science•2019

  • Core Networks and Tie Activation

    Jeanne S Hurlbert, Valerie A Haines et al.•American Sociological Review•2000

  • Social Connectivity in America

    Open Access•Hua Wang, Hua Wang Hua Wang et al.•American Behavioral Scientist•2010

  • Better with age

    Open Access•Gloria Luong, Susan T Charles et al.•Journal of Social and Personal…•2011

  • Important relationships in a multilevel world

    Open Access•Mahin Raissi, Robert Ackland•Journal of Social and Personal…•2021

  • Troubled Relationships in Later Life

    Open Access•Robert O Hansson, Warren H Jones et al.•Journal of Social and Personal…•1990

  • Who matters most? Social support, social strain, and emotions

    Open Access•Kayla D R Pierce, Christopher S Quiroz•Journal of Social and Personal…•2019

  • Le capital social, les trous structuraux et l'entrepreneur

    R S Burt•Revue Française de Sociologie•1995

  • Measuring Tie Strength

    P V Marsden, Karen E Campbell•Social Forces•1984

  • Creating Networks for Survival and Mobility

    Silvia Dominguez, Celeste Watkins•Social Problems•2003

  • Foundations of Social Theory

    Open Access•Frederick C Gamst•Anthropology of Work Review•1991

  • Visualizing Personal Networks

    Open Access•B Hogan, Juan Antonio Carrasco et al.•CAM•2007

  • Birds of a Feather

    Miller Mcpherson, L Smith-Lovin et al.•Annual Review of Sociology•2001

  • Beyond and Below Racial Homophily

    Andreas Wimmer, K Lewis•American Journal of Sociology•2010

  • Different Strokes from Different Folks

    B Wellman, Scot Wortley•American Journal of Sociology•1990

  • The Focused Organization of Social Ties

    L Feld, Scott L Feld•American Journal of Sociology•1981

  • The Strength of Weak Ties

    Mark Granovetter, Mark S Granovetter•American Journal of Sociology•1973

  • Risk and Trust in Social Exchange

    Linda D Molm, Nobuyuki Takahashi et al.•American Journal of Sociology•2000

  • Gender differences in the exchange of social support with friends, neighbors, and co-workers at midlife

    Open Access•C A Liebler, Gary D Sandefur•Social Science Research•2002

  • How Friendship Network Characteristics Influence Subjective Well-Being

    Open Access•Mariska Van Der Horst, H Coffe•Social Indicators Research•2012

Unique citing works3
Citations per year0,6
Citation span2021 - 2026 (6)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 3

Tools

Open DOI
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae