The reciprocal temporal associations between subjective age and social relations in adult day care centers over a one-year period

Abstract

Objectives: The present study evaluated the reciprocal temporal associations between one’s subjective age (or felt age) and one’s social relations in the adult day care center (ADCC) over two waves of data collection, spread about 1 year apart. Method: Participants from four ADCCs in Israel were approached in 2017 and repeatedly, in 2018 ( N = 224 in Wave 1 and N = 259 in Wave 2). The ADCC social network included both outgoing ties of familiar relationships with other ADCC members as reported by the respondent (out-degree centrality) and ingoing ties, based on reports of other ADCC members who were familiar with the respondent (in-degree centrality). Results: Out-degree and in-degree centrality at baseline were not associated with change in subjective age. Subjective age at the first time point was not associated with change in out-degree centrality, but it was negatively associated with change in in-degree centrality. Even after controlling for sociodemographic and health variables, adults who felt younger were subsequently cited by more ADCC members. Conclusions: The findings stress the importance of subjective age to one’s relationship in the ADCC. It is suggested that a younger subjective age is a desired quality in the ADCC.