Patterns of self-disclosure across social support networks: elderly, middle-aged, and young adults.
Self-disclosure has generally been examined as a unidimensional construct which relates to intimacy in developing relationships. Self-disclosure also serves many functions in established relationships, such as with close friends and family. Moreover, the functions served by self-disclosure may vary depending upon the adults' gender and stage in the life-span. In this study, such issues are examined with regard to elderly, middle-aged, and young adults' use of four functions of self-disclosure: self-expression, self-clarification, social control, and social validation. Findings support the claim that greater intergenerational distance is related to less self-disclosure among members of a social network. Further, elderly adults self-disclose more often to family than to friends, while young adults self-disclose to friends more often than to family. Implications for self-disclosure within the areas of gender, social support, and social comparison are discussed, and the appropriateness of adults' disclosure patterns within a framework of life stages is considered.
Parker
R G
RG
Department of Communication, University of San Francisco, CA 94117-1080, USA.
Parrott
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D015144:Southeastern United States; D014342:Truth Disclosure