Adverse changes in close social ties in aging women and men: A population-based longitudinal study of the CLSA (2011–2021)

Abstract

Close social ties are important for health but these can decline as people age. Moreover, losses of close social ties may be worse for women, older age and low socioeconomic groups. We characterized alterations in both marital status or living arrangement over 6 years by gender, and assessed patterns by age, country of origin, geographic location, education, wealth, and household income. We used three waves of Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging data on 25,327 adults (45–85 years at baseline) to construct transition variables and multinomial logistic regressions with post-estimated predicted probabilities. Close social ties were stable over time, with most Canadians remaining partnered (77 % of men and 62 % of women) or co-living (82 % of men and 72 % of women). Adverse close social ties over time were gendered and socially patterned, with women 75+ years and of low socioeconomic status (SES) having the greatest risks. Becoming widowed or remaining non-partnered was relatively more likely for women with oldest age (RRR range: 6.08–15.64) or with low SES (RRRs: 2.29–47.06), and for men with oldest age (RRRs: 1.07–8.77) or low SES (RRRs: 2.03–31.72). Becoming or remaining lone-living was relatively more likely for women of oldest age (RRRs: 5.57–8.72) or low SES (RRRs: 2.16–65.78) and also for men of oldest aged (RRRs: 2.33–2.57) or low SES (RRRs: 2.08–49.62). Tailored healthy aging strategies to foster close social connections of women or men in older and low SES groups seems warranted.