Who Supports Whom? How Age and Gender Affect the Perceived Quality of Support from Family and Friends

This study investigates age and gender differences in the relative perception of social support across adulthood. Findings indicate that age and gender do affect both the perception of positive support and the perception of demandingness across different support relationships. In all age groups, men appear to perceive spousal support as the most positive, while women seem to perceive the support received from children as being the most positive. However, it is apparent that all three relationships studied--those with spouse, children, and friends/other relatives--are important sources of support for both men and women.