Primary-Group Support Systems of the Aged

This article examines whether the instrumental and affectual support provided the elderly differs among informal social support groups. Cantor's hierarchical-compensatory model postulates an order of preference in the choice of support group regardless of the type of aid sought. Litwak's task-specific model predicts that older people turn to different support groups depending on the type of assistance needed. Our test of these two models indicates that certain network members are more likely to be selected regardless of whether the assistance needed is instrumental or affective. The elderly turn primarily to the spouse followed by adult children, friends, siblings, and “other relatives” in that order. When lacking one of these categories of intimates, no compensatory principle operates.