Japan-U.S. Study of Social Relations and Mental Health over the Life Course-10 Years Later

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Identical measures of social support network and mental health were collected in 1992 from a representative sample of 1842 people in the Yokohama metropolitan area and 1080 were re-interviewed in 2005. Respondents were age 20-92 in 2005. The parallel data were collected in the Detroit metropolitan area in the United States. We examined the patterns of stability and change over thirteen years in structure and function of support network and health (mental and physical), of individuals who are at different stages of the life course. The analyses suggest remarkable stability in the characteristics of support network over the thirteen years in both countries.Changes were observed in negative (rather than positive) relationships. Negative relationships with child and friend decreased over time. Negative relationships with parents decreased over time in young age, but slightly increased in later adulthood. Negative spouse relationship increased over time. The quality of relationship with mother in childhood affected mental health thirteen years later. Support from spouse was found most important when one faces life difficulties. The data also suggest the positive association of diverse networks not dominated by small, close family networks but rather characterized by larger networks consisting of both family and friends and reflecting various situational characteristics and role expectations