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Age-related social selectivity: An adaptive lens on a later life social phenotype - PubMed

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Age-related social selectivity: An adaptive lens on a later life social phenotype

Nicole Thompson González et al. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Age-related social selectivity is a process in which older humans reduce their number of social partners to a subset of positive and emotionally fulfilling relationships. Although selectivity has been attributed to humans' unique perceptions of time horizons, recent evidence demonstrates that these social patterns and processes occur in other non-human primates, suggesting an evolutionarily wider phenomenon. Here, we develop the hypothesis that selective social behavior is an adaptive strategy that allows social animals to balance the costs and benefits of navigating social environments in the face of age-related functional declines. We first aim to distinguish social selectivity from the non-adaptive social consequences of aging. We then outline multiple mechanisms by which social selectivity in old age may enhance fitness and healthspan. Our goal is to lay out a research agenda to identify selective strategies and their potential benefits. Given the importance of social support for health across primates, understanding why aging individuals lose social connections and how they can remain resilient has vital applications to public health research.

Keywords: Age-related constraints; Comparative gerontology; Non-human primates; Senescence; Social aging; Social integration; Social isolation.

Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.

;;Example scenarios: varying components of age-related social selectivity and related constraints. Figs. A & B represent a scenario of the age-related social selectivity phenotype observed in humans and certain non-human primates. A) Social effort declines with age in relation to physical and cognitive constraints on sociality. Part of the decline in social effort is involuntary and based on declines in physical and cognitive function necessary for maintaining social contact and relationships. Another part of declining social effort is voluntary, facilitating the second component of social selectivity: B) where individuals focus remaining effort on close partners and increase those that are relatively high quality. Shaded areas represent proportion of total partners in each category. Figs. C & D represent alternative scenarios of social change with age, the health and fitness correlates of which are useful to tease apart the potential benefits of selectivity (A-B). C) Individuals reduce social effort with age to focus on close partners with no corresponding increase in partner quality. D) Individuals do not reduce social effort however increase their focus on high-quality partners by cultivating more of them. Effort: Number of or time with social partners Close or strong partners: Partners that individuals identify as important or frequently interact with High-quality partners: Partners with whom individuals have relationships that are either mutual, more equitable, reciprocal, lower in conflict and/or more supportive.

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