title: Social self-efficacy and short-term variability in social relationships: the MacArthur successful aging studies.
abstract: Dealing with others entails both stability and short-term variability of the functions and outcomes of social relationships. The authors argue that patterns of short-term intraindividual variability in social relationships and self-efficacy beliefs contribute interpretable information about social adaptation. On the basis of 23 repeated weekly measurements of a sample of 32 participants ages 56 to 88 years, the authors examined the extent to which fluctuations in perceived relational outcomes are related to fluctuations of social self-efficacy. Results showed that individuals differ systematically in respect to the extent to which they experience and display fluctuations in self-efficacy and availability of social relationships. Moreover, when individuals perceive others to be available across time, social self-efficacy beliefs are stronger and fluctuate less across time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontopsychiatry, Free University Berlin, Germany. flang@zedat.fu-berlin.de
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Featherman
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Nesselroade
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012934:Social Isolation; D013997:Time Factors