Most studies of network quality have concentrated on specific types of ties separately (i.e., spouse/partner, parents, children, or best friends), rather than a range of relationships at the same time ( Birditt & Antonucci, 2007). Quality has been measured in a variety of ways, including the examination of support, companionship, and affection as positive relationship qualities, and demandingness, criticalness, conflict, and loneliness as negative ( Antonucci et al., 2014 Birditt & Antonucci, 2007 Shiovitz-Ezra & Litwin, 2012). Scholars who have examined qualitative aspects of older adults’ convoys have identified network types based on relationship quality patterns, including: high quality network, high family/friend quality, high spouse/family quality, low spouse/family quality, and low network quality ( Antonucci, Ajrouch, & Birditt, 2014 Birditt & Antonucci, 2007). Network quality corresponds to individuals’ overall convoy satisfaction and captures a broad range of relational experiences ( Doubova, Pérez-Cuevas, Espinosa-Alacrón, & Flores-Hernández, 2010 Fiori et al., 2007). Highlighting the need for more research, studies suggest that the quality of relations is important and may have a greater impact on well-being than structural elements ( Amieva et al., 2010 Antonucci, 2001 Antonucci, Fuhrer, & Dartigues, 1997 Fiori, Antonucci, & Cortina 2006). The construct is multidimensional but scholars have focused on its structural and functional aspects ( Amieva et al., 2010 Fiori et al., 2007 Fiori, Antonucci, & Akiyama, 2008 Litwin & Shiovitz-Ezra, 2011). Based in this model, the network type construct has proven useful for characterizing the nature of older adults’ social worlds ( Litwin & Shiovitz-Ezra, 2011).
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The structural (size, composition, proximity, frequency of contact), functional (instrumental, emotional, and affirmational support), and qualitative features of convoys ideally form a protective base, affecting health and well-being ( Fiori, Smith, & Antonucci, 2007). Aging, Convoys, Older gay men, Social network typesĮmbedded within a life course perspective, the convoy model maintains that individuals’ “convoys,” or the collection of supportive relationships that move with individuals through time, space, and life course, are shaped by personal and situational characteristics, member gains and losses, biographies, and social-historical context ( Antonucci, 2001 Kahn & Antonucci, 1980).