Scientific article
OA Policy
English

Do Conflict Structures of Family Networks Matter for Loneliness in Later Life? The Case of a Cohort of Swiss Older Adults

First online date2025-09-09
Abstract

This study explores the interconnection that exists between loneliness and conflict structures in older adults' family networks. Research has shown that close family dyads, such as marriages or partnerships, often generate conflict, with negative consequences for mental health. However, such dyads are embedded in larger family networks with their own conflict structures. When considering the development of loneliness, the significant role of these larger conflict structures and their characteristics (i.e., density, centralization) has been disregarded, to a large extent, thus far. This research draws on the Vivre/Leben/Vivere survey, which investigated the family life and health conditions of people aged 65 and over living in Switzerland. Analyses focused on 890 individuals who participated in two waves of the survey, separated by 6 years. Regression and mediation models show that the conflict density of family networks is related to loneliness through its association with stress. The importance of network conflict structures is discussed.

Keywords
  • Confit
  • Family networks
  • Loneliness
  • Mediation models
  • Older adults
  • Stress
Research groups
Citation (ISO format)
WIDMER, Eric, GIRARDIN KECIOUR, Myriam, CIOBANU, Ruxandra Oana. Do Conflict Structures of Family Networks Matter for Loneliness in Later Life? The Case of a Cohort of Swiss Older Adults. In: Personal relationships, 2025. doi: 10.1111/pere.70025
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
Identifiers
Journal ISSN1350-4126
27views
121downloads

Technical informations

Creation12/09/2025 11:59:26
First validation12/09/2025 13:23:06
Update12/09/2025 13:23:06
Status update12/09/2025 13:23:06
Last indexation12/09/2025 13:23:06
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack