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

1992年从横滨市区1842人的代表性样本中收集了社会支持网络和心理健康的相同测量值，2005年对1080人进行了再次访谈。2005年的调查对象年龄在20-92岁之间。平行数据是在美国底特律大都市区收集的。我们研究了13年来处于生命历程不同阶段的个体在支持网络和健康（心理和身体）的结构和功能方面的稳定性和变化模式。分析表明，13年来两国的支持网络特征具有显著的稳定性。在消极（而非积极）关系中观察到变化。与孩子和朋友的消极关系随着时间的推移而减少。与父母的消极关系在年轻时随着时间的推移而减少，但在成年后期略有增加。消极的配偶关系随着时间的推移而增加。童年时期与母亲的关系质量会影响13年后的心理健康。当一个人面临生活困难时，来自配偶的支持是最重要的。数据还表明，不同的网络之间存在积极的联系，这些网络不是由小型的、亲密的家庭网络主导的，而是由家庭和朋友组成的更大的网络，反映了各种情境特征和角色期望

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