Isolation or Replenishment? The Case of Partner Network Exclusivity and Partner Loss in Later Life

Objectives People’s partners and spouses often provide a wide range of essential emotional and practical support. As crucial as they may be, a nontrivial segment of the older population appears to limit close discussions to their partner alone, a phenomenon we term “partner network exclusivity.” This network structure could leave people vulnerable to partner losses and subsequent social isolation. The present research has 3 aims: (a) examine the prevalence of partner-exclusive networks among European older adults; (b) consider who is most likely to inhabit such networks; and (c) investigate whether and how individuals in such precarious networks rebalance them in case of partner losses. Methods The analysis uses Wave 4 (2011) and Wave 6 (2015) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to perform logistic regression on one’s possession of partner-exclusive networks and the addition of core ties. Results More than a quarter of partnered respondents (28.1%) are in partner-exclusive core networks. Men, childless individuals, and those with financial difficulties are most likely to occupy such networks. Individuals in partner exclusivity are especially likely to enlist additional ties upon partner loss. Nevertheless, men and individuals at early old age are relatively unlikely to rebalance their core networks in case of partner death. Discussion This study provides new evidence that network replenishment following relationship disruptions is plausible even for those from precarious network settings. Nevertheless, widowhood produces patterns of vulnerability for a subset of older adults in partner-exclusive core networks.