Federal "Match.com" for Seniors? A Conversation with Dr. Lisa Neff
This series provides researchers in the social and behavioral sciences whose work has been mischaracterized by lawmakers the opportunity to set the record straight about the value and potential of their work-- and confront misconceptions about social science research funded by the federal government.
COSSA: Describe your research project in your own words.
LISA NEFF: Our project compares the relationship coping strategies of older and younger couples, both married and dating, to examine potential age-related changes in how we approach relationship conflicts, as well as the implications of different coping strategies for emotional and physical well-being. We are particularly interested in the relationship experiences of older (age 60+) dating couples. Recent decades have seen a dramatic rise in the prevalence of dating in later life. Despite these societal trends, our understanding of how older adults maintain satisfying dating relationships is limited. Although research on marriage and dating has much to say regarding the coping behaviors that create happier, healthier relationships, this research has focused overwhelmingly on the relationships of young adults. Thus, we don't know how well these findings generalize to an older population. Our project hopes to fill this gap and provide a better understanding of the factors that promote healthy relationships in later life.
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