Department of Sociology and Gerontology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
Gerontologist. 2020 Aug 14;60(6):1085-1093. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnz188.
Research suggests that robust social networks have positive effects on peoples' well-being. An instrumental methodology for studying networks is the social convoy model, a diagram of concentric circles that illustrate network size, structure, and satisfaction. Convoys have been described as dynamic. Specifically, as people age, their convoys become stronger and smaller due to focusing on what matters most and accumulating losses. Therefore, convoys only include meaningful, living persons. The continuing bonds model posits that it is normal for people to maintain connections with the deceased. The objective of the current study was to integrate the social convoy and continuing bonds models in order to examine the presence of deceased loved ones in convoys.
Eighteen individuals (M = 66 years), recruited via fliers and snowball sampling, participated in one semistructured interview regarding the death of a loved one and their convoy. Participants also completed a convoy model, identifying where the deceased fit (if anywhere) when they were alive and at present. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed for themes.
Three themes emerged: communication (i.e., writing or speaking to the deceased), continuity (i.e., a continuing relationship), and reciprocity (i.e., perceived exchange of support(s)). Eighty-nine percent of participants felt their loved one's death did not change their convoy presence and 88% reported that their positioning in the convoy remained unchanged.
This research offers a new way to think about convoys and may prompt the development of supportive interventions for bereaved individuals.
研究表明，强大的社交网络对人们的幸福感有积极影响。研究网络的一种工具方法是社交车队模型，这是一个同心环图，说明了网络的大小、结构和满意度。车队被描述为动态的。具体来说，随着人们年龄的增长，由于专注于最重要的事情并积累损失，他们的车队会变得更强大和更小。因此，车队只包括有意义的、在世的人。持续联系模型认为，人们与死者保持联系是正常的。本研究的目的是整合社会车队和持续联系模型，以检查死者在车队中的存在。
通过传单和雪球抽样招募了 18 名参与者（M = 66 岁），他们参加了一次关于所爱之人去世和他们的车队的半结构化访谈。参与者还完成了车队模型，确定了死者在活着和现在时的位置（如果有的话）。访谈被转录、编码和分析主题。
出现了三个主题：沟通（即与死者写信或交谈）、连续性（即持续的关系）和互惠性（即感知到的支持交换）。89%的参与者认为他们所爱之人的死并没有改变他们的车队存在，88%的参与者报告说他们在车队中的位置没有改变。
这项研究提供了一种思考车队的新方式，并可能促使为丧亲者开发支持性干预措施。
