Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30783671›Full record

ArticleThe journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences2020

Variety Is the Spice of Late Life: Social Integration and Daily Activity.

Karen L Fingerman, Meng Huo, Susan T Charles, Debra J Umberson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 59 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
59citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

59 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Expanding social networks through physical activity: implications for cardiometabolic health.Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine · 2026
    Trial
  3. Trial
  4. Trial
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Social connection and cognitive health: A review of concepts, measures, and research priorities.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2026
    Review
  8. Time and the convoy model: social network turnover and mental health in older adulthood.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2026
    Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Daily sleep, social encounters, and momentary loneliness in late life.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2025
    Article
  12. Article
  13. More than an Acquaintance Less than a Friend: Fringeships in Everyday Life.Review of general psychology : journal of Division 1, of the American Psychological Association · 2025
    Article
  14. Review
  15. Within- and Between-Person Differences in Activity Factor Structure: Results From an Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2025
    Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Loneliness and Mode of Social Contact in Late Life.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2024
    Article
  19. Article
  20. Daily Electronic Media Use and Sleep in Late Life.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2024
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Karen L FingermanDepartment of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin.
Meng HuoDepartment of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin.
Susan T CharlesInstitute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Debra J UmbersonDepartment of Sociology and Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin.

Funding

Scientific & Technical CoreP2CHD042849 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · PI MARK D. HAYWARD · 2017 to 2026
$5.2M
Social Networks and Well-being in Late Life: A Study of Daily MechanismsR01AG046460 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · PI FINGERMAN, KAREN L · 2015 to 2019
$2.5M
NIA NIH HHS R01 AG046460NICHD NIH HHS P2C HD042849
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesSocial integration (involvement with a diverse array of social ties) has been linked to positive outcomes including better physical health. Research has not investigated whether encounters with diverse social ties enhance individuals' daily behaviors. The objectives of this study were to assess whether social ties connect individuals to more diverse daily behaviors, physical activity, and nonsedentary time as well as more positive mood.

methodOlder adults (aged 65+, n = 313) provided information about their 10 closest social ties. Then they completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys every 3 hr for 5-6 days where they reported on social encounters and behaviors. They also wore Actical accelerometers to objectively measure physical activity.

resultsMultilevel models revealed that encounters with a greater variety of social ties was associated with engaging in a greater variety of behaviors, more objectively measured physical activity, and a smaller proportion of time spent sedentary. Encounters with weak ties/peripheral social ties accounted for this increased activity (compared to being alone or with close friends or family). Moreover, involvement with diverse ties or diverse behaviors was associated with better mood. DISCUSSION: Findings are discussed in terms of social engagement theory, network diversity, and the benefits of weak ties.

Indexed as

Activities of Daily LivingSocial IntegrationAccelerometryAgedAged, 80 and overExerciseFemaleHumansMaleSedentary BehaviorSocial NetworkingSocial ParticipationSurveys and QuestionnairesAccelerometerActicalActigraphyEcological momentary assessmentEMA

Identifiers

PMID30783671
PMCPMC7179804

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.