CONTACT WITH FRIENDS IN LATER LIFE - DISENTANGLING THE EFFECTS OF GENDER AND MARITAL-STATUS

Gender differences in social contacts have been reported in previous studies, with some writers concluding that the friendships of women and men differ both quantitatively and qualitatively. Using data from the longitudinal Retirement History Study, groups of widowed, divorced or separated, and never-married women and men aged 60 to 65 were compared on three dimensions of friendship contacts. Results showed that contact with friends cannot be distinguished solely by the respondents' gender or by their marital status. Rather, adequate attention must be given to the combined effects of these variables. Further, in contrast to suggestions in the literature, patterns of gender differences observed within the marital groups did not become more similar after respondents retired from paid labor.