The Best of Ties, the Worst of Ties: Close, Problematic, and Ambivalent Social Relationships

• Published in: Journal of marriage and family 2004-08, Vol.66 (3), p.792-808
• Main Authors: Fingerman, Karen L., Hay, Elizabeth L., Birditt, Kira S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Age; Age Differences; Age groups; Aging (Individuals); Ambivalence; Attachment; Daughters; emotion; Emotions; Families & family life; Family (Sociological Unit); Family Relations; Family Relationship; Family studies; Friendship; Individual Needs; Intergenerational Relations; Intergenerational relationships; Interpersonal communication; Interpersonal Relationship; kin; Knowledge; Negative Attitudes; Of General Interest; Older adults; Parent Child Relationship; Parents; Sexuality. Marriage. Family relations; social network; Social networking; Social Networks; Social relations; Socialization; Sociology; Sociology of the family. Age groups; Sons; spouse; Spouses
• ISSN: 0022-2445; 1741-3737
• DOI: 10.1111/j.0022-2445.2004.00053.x

This study builds on research addressing intergenerational ambivalence by considering emotional ambivalence toward the wider social network. Men and women ages 13 to 99 (N = 187) completed diagrams of their close and problematic social relationships. Social ties were classified as solely close, solely problematic, or ambivalent, based on network placement (n = 3,392 social contacts). Multilevel models revealed that individuals viewed certain close familial ties (e.g., spouse, son or daughter, parent, sibling) with greater ambivalence than they viewed more distal family ties, friendships, or acquaintances. Participants classified more acquaintances than other relationships as solely problematic. Feeling closer to a social partner was associated with increased ambivalence. Older adults were more likely to classify their relationships as solely close than as ambivalent, in comparison with younger adults. Discussion focuses on tension and closeness in familial and nonfamilial relationships.