Social interaction and well -being across the life course.

This dissertation examines the relative contributions of positive and negative interaction with social networks for psychological well-being among Black and white adults across the life course. This dissertation follows the multiple manuscript format and employs data from the Americans' Changing Lives Study (ACL) and the National Comorbidity Survey (NCS). Structural equation modeling is used to examine the interrelations between stress, personal and social resources, and psychological well-being. Specifically, this dissertation examines: (1) the relative contribution of positive and negative interaction for psychological well-being, while taking into account the influence of personality; (2) personal control and mastery as mediators in the relationship between social interaction and psychological well-being; (3) the role of social interaction in the stress process; and (4) positive and negative interaction as mediators of the impact of stress on psychological well-being. Findings indicated different models of these relationships for African Americans and whites. Overall, positive interaction was a stronger predictor of psychological well-being for African Americans, whereas negative interaction was a stronger predictor of psychological well-being for whites. Personal control and mastery were identified as important mediators in the relationship between negative interaction and psychological well-being for African Americans, whites and older adults. Financial strain and traumatic events were associated with a decline in positive interaction for whites and older adults, but not for African Americans. Finally, negative interaction contributed to the impact of financial strain and traumatic events on psychological well-being for whites, but not for African Americans or older adults. Together, these results provide a comprehensive model of the social support process and contribute to our understanding of the role of social networks in promoting well-being.PhDClinical psychologyEthnic studiesPsychologySocial SciencesSocial psychologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/129967/2/3042116.pd