(1990). Ties and Bonds. Connections, 13 (3) - INSNA

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negative ones, and ruminate more about the positive ones . Experiments on mood induction are reported . Talking to
another person, and thinking alone about positive events, both have strong positive efects on mood . However talking
has a much less depressing effect than thinking about negative ones . Developments and prospects for happiness
therapy are considered .
Auslander, Gail K., & Litwin, Howard . (1990) . Social support networks and formal help seeking : Differences
between applicants to social services and a nonapplicant sample . Journal of Gerontology : Social SCIENCES, 45,
s112-119 .
Measures of social network strength have been shown to be positively correlated with the health and wellbeing
of a range of populations,_ including older adults . This study compares the network structure and the support
available to a group of elderly applicants for public social service assistance with those of a group of elderly persons
who had not sought help (also taking into account predisposing characteristics and functional impairment) . The
applicant group was found to have significantly smaller networks and less affective support, even when controlling
for age and physical capacity .
Avery, Roger, Speare, Alden, Jr ., & Lawton, Leora . (1989) . Social support, disability and independent living of
elderly persons in the United States. Journal of Aging Studies, 3, 279-293 .
This article examines the effects of the availability of kin and disability on the ability of elderly persons to live
alone in the United States. The first part of the article uses a sample of women aged 65 and over from the 1980
census to study the factors associated with both living in group housing and living alone . Disability and absence of a
spouse or children are strongly associated with living in group housing, whereas lack of disability and lack of
children are strongly associated with living alone . In the second part, data from the Supplement on Aging to the
1984 National Health Interview Survey are used to investigate the source and amount of help received among those
with difficulties in performing Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) or Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) .
Those living alone or with nonrelatives are most likely to rely on paid help and this is more likely if they have few
living children .
Baker, Wayne . (1990) . Market networks and corporate behavior . American Journal of Sociology, 96, 589- 625 .
Data on market relations between a large population of corporations and investment banks are used to study
the organization-market interface - the pattern of direct market ties between a firm and its banks . Forms of
interfaces range from a long-term, exclusive tie (the relationship interface), to many short-lived, episodic ties (the
transaction interface), with hybrid forms between the two poles . Contrary to widespread belief, the article finds that
strong relationships still exist . Transaction interfaces are rare . Most firms use hybrid interfaces . A firm's interface is
conceptualized as the intentional result of its efforts to reduce dependence and exploit power advantages . Observed
interfaces are shown to be related systematically to various power-dependence concepts, including resource intensity
(number of transactions and dollar amounts raised), criticality (the availability of resource alternatives), power
asymmetry between a firm and its main bank, organization size, standardization of exchange, and the use of tandem
strategies (director interlocks) .
Barbee, Anita P., Gulley, Mary R, & Cunningham, Michael R . (1990) . Support seeking in personal relationships .
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 7, 531-540 .
This paper introduces a new model of interactive support seeking and describes a study derived from it . Task
vs . relationship type of problem and gender of support seeker were examined for their effect on the selection of
same-sex vs . opposite-sex friends to provide social support . Male and female undergraduates were asked to vividly
imagine each of two task and two relationship problems and to indicate for each problem the friend to whom they
would prefer to talk . Participants were also asked to anticipate the specific interactive coping behaviors that their
same- and opposite-sex friends would offer in response to each problem . We found that both males and females
preferred to talk to their same-sex friends rather than their opposite-sex friends about both relationship and task
problems . Yet males indicated that they would rather talk about task than relationship issues with their male friends
and expected the male friends to use more dismiss b ehaviors . i n response to a relationship problem . Females expected
their female friends to use more solve and support behaviors in response to relationship problems than task
problems, and for their male friends to use more dismiss and escape behaviors in response to problems . Directions
for future research on interactive support seeking are suggested .
Fall/Winter 1990
Connections