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Cited by 2,174Aging and Gerontology ResearchRetirement, Disability, and EmploymentAttachment and Relationship Dynamics

Social and emotional patterns in adulthood: Support for socioemotional selectivity theory

Carstensen, Laura L.·1992·Psychology and Aging
DOI 10.1037/0882-7974.7.3.331
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Abstract

This investigation explored 2 hypotheses derived from socioemotional selectivity theory: (a) Selective reductions in social interaction begin in early adulthood and (b) emotional closeness to significant others increases rather than decreases in adulthood even when rate reductions occur. Transcribed interviews with 28 women and 22 men from the Child Guidance Study, conducted over 34 years, were reviewed and rated for frequency of interaction, satisfaction with the relationship, and degree of emotional closeness in 6 types of relationships. Interaction frequency with acquaintances and close friends declined from early adulthood on. Interaction frequency with spouses and siblings increased across the same time period and emotional closeness increased throughout adulthood in relationships with relatives and close friends. Findings suggest that individuals begin narrowing their range of social partners long before old age.

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  • Aging goes along with shifts in individuals' motives and goals.

    “socioemotional selectivity theory (Carstensen, 1991(Carstensen, , 1992) ) suggests that aging goes along with shifts in individuals' motives and goals.”

    From What satisfies younger versus older employees, and why? An aging perspective on equity theory to explain interactive effects of employee age, monetary rewards, and task contributions on job satisfaction (2020) · cites this paper as Carstensen, 1992

  • Newer activity-related theories such as socio-emotional selectivity (SES) and Selection, Optimization and Compensation (SOC) espouse successful ageing through adaptation, focusing particularly on selection of appropriate social and leisure activities.

    “Newer activity-related theories such as socio-emotional selectivity (SES ; Carstensen 1992;Frederickson and Carstensen 1990), and Selection, Optimization and Compensation (SOC ; Baltes and Baltes 1990;Freund and Baltes 1998) espouse successful ageing through adaptation, focusing particularly on selection of appropriate social and leisure activities (Adams 2004).”

    From A critical review of the literature on social and leisure activity and wellbeing in later life (2011) · cites this paper as Carstensen 1992

  • In later life, social networks are likely to reduce in size due to the increasing independence of adult children, the death of close social contacts, and the increased selectivity of social interactions with age.

    “In later life, social networks are likely to reduce in size due to the increasing independence of adult children, the death of close social contacts, and the increased selectivity of social interactions with age (Baltes & Baltes, 1990;Bordone & Weber, 2012;Carstensen, 1992;de Jong Gierveld & Havens, 2004;Fredrickson & Carstensen, 1990;Freund & Baltes, 1998;Victor et al., 2000).”

    From Living alone and cognitive function in later life (2019) · cites this paper as Carstensen, 1992

  • Individuals who live alone may have less frequent opportunity for social contact, may be more isolated, and may feel more lonely than those who live with others, which may result in reduced cognitive stimulation and lower cognitive reserve.

    “Individuals who live alone may have less frequent opportunity for social contact, may be more isolated (Carstensen, 1992;de Jong Gierveld & Havens, 2004;de Jong Gierveld, 2003;Kobayashi et al., 2009), and may feel more lonely (Newall et al., 2014;Victor et al., 2005) than those who live with others, which may result in reduced cognitive stimulation and lower cognitive reserve (Gow et al., 2007).”

    From Living alone and cognitive function in later life (2019) · cites this paper as Carstensen, 1992

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Authors
Carstensen, L. L.
Affiliations
Stanford University (US)
Corresponding author
Carstensen, Laura L.
ORCID
Carstensen, Laura L.
Venue
Psychology and Aging
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
1992
Volume
7
Issue
3
Pages
331-338
ISSN
  • 0882-7974 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1498
DOI
10.1037/0882-7974.7.3.331
OpenAlex
W4229619231
Cited by
2,174
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 148 · 2025: 152 · 2024: 107 · 2023: 91 · 2022: 135 · 2021: 177 · 2020: 100 · 2019: 111 · 2018: 91 · 2017: 88 · 2016: 95 · 2015: 110 · 2014: 80 · 2013: 75 · 2012: 82
FWCI
6.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychology and Aging (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Aging (R01AG007476, R01AGO7476, R01AG008816, R01AGO8816)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Retirement, Disability, and Employment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Keywords
socioemotional selectivity theory, social patterns, emotional patterns, adulthood, aging, life transitions
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aging, Child, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Parent-Child Relations, Personal Satisfaction, Personality Development, Sibling Relations, Social Environment, Social Support

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