title: Is reciprocity always beneficial? Age differences in the association between support balance and life satisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reciprocity in support exchanges is believed to be beneficial to psychological well-being. This study examined perceived emotional and instrumental support balance from either family or friends, and the relationship between each support balance and life satisfaction among young and older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included 107 older adults and 96 young adults. They rated their life satisfaction, as well as the emotional and instrumental support they provided to and received from family members and friends.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consistent with the socioemotional selectivity theory, age differences were found in perceived emotional support balance with friends. Older adults reported more emotionally reciprocal friendships than did young adults. Moreover, contrary to the equity rule, emotionally over-benefited friendships were associated with higher life satisfaction for older adults than were reciprocal friendships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age, type of support, and source of support should be considered when studying the relationships between support balance and psychological well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Tianyuan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hung Kit
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Fok
authors.forename: Helene H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult