Abstract
The extent to which various sources of social support contribute to health and well-being has been the subject of many empirical studies. However, how much we value and invest in close relationships change across the lifespan and likely vary cross-culturally. Do close relationships have a static influence on health and well-being across the lifespan or do some close relationships become increasingly more important for health and well-being as people age? In Study 1, a cross-sectional survey of 271,053 adults from 97 different countries, valuing friendships was related to better functioning particularly among older adults whereas valuing familial relationships exerted a static influence on health and well-being across the lifespan. In Study 2, a longitudinal study of 7,481 older adults, only strain from friendships predicted more chronic illnesses over a six-year period; support from spouses, children, and friends predicted higher subjective well-being over an eight-year period. In Study 3, I draw on insights from the Investment Model of Close Relationships to make examine predictors of relationship longevity and how they might vary across relationships in 460 romantic and friendship dyads. Satisfaction and the quality of alternatives to the relationship predicted commitment across relationships. However, partner reports of satisfaction (for friendships) and quality of alternatives (for romantic relationships) provided opposing forces for what predicted commitment. The findings are discussed in the context of lifespan developmental theories of emotion regulation and the dynamic nature of social networks across the lifespan.