Friendship and End-of-Life Discussions Among Older Adults - Moderating Effects of Marital Status and Gender

Sep 29, 2026

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The study examines how emotional support from friends, friendship network size, and marital context relate to informal and formal end-of-life (EOL) planning among U.S. older adults. Using data from the 2018 and 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 4,728), multivariable logistic regression evaluates differences by gender and marital status. Results show emotional support from friends is differentially associated with engagement in EOL conversations, with moderation by marital status and gender, especially among older men with low support.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Study Focus

Data Source and Sample

Methods

Key Findings

FAQs

What does the study analyze regarding end-of-life planning?

It analyzes the association between emotional support from friends, friendship network size, and both informal and formal end-of-life planning.

Which data are used to examine these relationships?

The study uses data from the 2018 and 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative sample of U.S. older adults (N = 4,728).

How do results differ by marital status and gender?

Findings show evidence of moderation by marital status and gender: among married/partnered/previously married individuals, support from friends shows no statistically significant effect on EOL discussion likelihood, while emotional support from friends is differentially related for others, including older men with low support.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Finn