Is It Better to Give or to Receive? Social Support and the Well-being of Older Adults

This study examines the separate effects of several dimensions of giving and receiving social support on the well-being of older adults, with hypotheses guided by identity theory. Data derive from the Social Networks in Adult Life survey, a national probability sample of older adults (N = 689). Ordinary least squares regression was used to examine the impact of total support, size of support network, number of types of support, and types of alter support relationships-both given and received-on well-being. Providing support to others is beneficial to older adults' well-being, as illustrated in the relatively strong, positive associations of total support given, the number of types of support given, and support given to friends and children on well-being. Receiving support was less important to well-being except when received from a spouse or sibling. Evidence from this analysis provides support for hypotheses predicted by identity theory, highlights the importance of examining giving and receiving support net of the other, and suggests that it is often better for the well-being of older adults to give than to receive.