Egocentric Contact Networks of Older Adults: Featuring Quantity, Strength and Function of Ties

ABSTRACT This article analyzes how the theory of constraints, the socio-emotional and functional selectivity theories can explain the egocentric networks of older adults. The contact diary method is applied on a randomly chosen subsample of a nationally representative cross-sectional sample in Hungary enumerating all active ties and encounters with social contacts of 181 adults aged 50 and above. Age is negatively associated with network size, but it is positively correlated with average tie strength. Retirement, declining health, and death of the partner act as external constraints, and are associated with a shrinking network. Our results support the socio-emotional selectivity theory, but not the functional selectivity theory.