title: Promotion of self-management in friendship.
abstract: This study examines changes in self management abilities among women in a friendship enrichment programme. The study is based on the theory of self management of well-being which identifies relevant self-management skills as self-efficacy, taking initiative, investment behaviour and attaining variety in resources. An intervention group (N  =  60) and a control group (N = 55) were studied at a baseline, three months and nine months later. Results indicate that the programme is effective in stimulating two of the four self-management abilities. Compared to the control group, participants in the intervention showed greater increases in initiative taking and more investment behaviour in friendship. There was no change in self-efficacy or variety in friendship. We conclude that older adult women are able to improve some self-management abilities in friendship after participating in this programme. Important goals for future studies are to improve the measurement of self-efficacy and relate improvement in self-management to subjective well-being.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Psychogerontology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. c.martina@psych.ru.nl
authors.forename: Camille M S
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Martina
authors.forename: Nan L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Gerben J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Westerhof
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012647:Self-Assessment