Women tend to have more numerous and more intimate friendships than men, which helps explain why women are in a better position to deal with life stressors. Siblings often form one of the strongest social support systems for the older adult. Siblings can act as confidants, caregivers, and cherished friends. Older married people tend to be happier, healthier, and live longer than widowed and divorced people. Most older marriages have existed since early adulthood and marital satisfaction research generally shows an increase in satisfaction among long-term married couples.
Marriage can provide emotional intimacy, sexual intimacy, interdependence, and a sense of belonging.
With time, most older married couples have developed adaptive ways to avoid conflict and have grown more alike. In general, marital satisfaction among older couples remains high until health problems begin to interfere with the relationship. For most people the death of a spouse is one of the most traumatic events they will experience. Widowhood is more likely to occur to women with the average married women living 10 to 12 years as a widow. For both widows and widowers, the first few months can be very difficult.