[Gender-specific differences in the development of social relations in the elderly--results of an empirical study].

This study examined gender differences in the social networks of 60 healthy women and men aged 65 to 89 years. Semi-structured interviews and a modification of the social convoy method (Kahn and Antonucci, 1980) were used. The results confirm the assumption of sex-role-specific behavior in social relationships. Gender differences were not found in the size of the social network.