It seems Americans are not only unhealthy (Marmot et al, 2006) but are also 
friendless!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
http://www.asanet.org/galleries/default-file/June06ASRFeature.pdf

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5509381

Social Isolation in America: Changes in Core Discussion Networks over Two 
Decades

Have the core discussion networks of Americans changed in the past two 
decades? In 1985, the General Social Survey (GSS) collected the first 
nationally representative data on the confidants with whom Americans discuss 
important matters. In the 2004 GSS the authors replicated those questions to 
assess social change in core network structures. Discussion networks are 
smaller in 2004 than in 1985. The number of people saying there is no one with 
whom they discuss important matters nearly tripled. The mean network size 
decreases by about a third (one confidant), from 2.94 in 1985 to 2.08 in
2004. The modal respondent now reports having no confidant; the modal 
respondent in 1985 had three confidants. Both kin and non-kin confidants were 
lost in the past two decades, but the greater decrease of non-kin ties leads 
to more confidant networks centered on spouses and parents, with fewer 
contacts through voluntary associations and neighborhoods. Most people have 
densely interconnected confidants similar to them. Some changes reflect the 
changing demographics of the U.S. population. Educational heterogeneity of 
social ties has decreased, racial heterogeneity has increased. The data
may overestimate the number of social isolates, but these shrinking networks 
reflect an important social change in America.

________________________________________________
Adam P. Coutts
Post-doctoral fellow
Center of Society, Human Development and Health,
Harvard School of Public Health,
677 Huntington Avenue,
Boston, MA 02115-6096

UK address:
Magdalene College,
University of Cambridge,
CB3 0AG.
email: [log in to unmask]

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