This study investigates how adults in the second half of life, both working and retired, actively manage their personal networks to support well-being as their social lives evolve with age. Between November 2022 and April 2023, 28 members of voluntary associations in Germany, aged 45 to 80 (mean age 62), participated in semi-structured interviews that included the construction of egocentric network maps. Using reflexive thematic analysis, two central themes were developed: the role of multiplex personal ties—relationships that combine multiple social roles such as friendship, caregiving, and neighbour—and the strategies individuals use to manage these networks. Multiplex ties were found to foster stability and reciprocal support, yet they can also be emotionally straining when marked by ambivalence. Retired participants often had smaller overall networks in comparison to working participants but maintained or even expanded their well-being-oriented networks, marked by fewer ambivalent relationships. The findings highlight the significance of proactive network management and the dual role of multiplex ties as both resources and potential stressors. Social participation, exemplified by engagement in voluntary associations, plays a critical role in helping older adults maintain meaningful relationships and counteract loneliness and social isolation.
Steinhoff et al. (Thu,) studied this question.