Table 2.

Types of Relationships and Their Characteristics by Age Group

	Young		Middle		Older
	Wave 1 (n = 472)	Wave 2 (n = 366)	Wave 1 (n = 395)	Wave 2 (n = 296)	Wave 1 (n = 494)	Wave 2 (n = 178)
Spouse/partner, n (%)	292 (61.9)	292 (79.8)	268 (67.8)	221 (74.7)	227 (46.0)	98 (55.1)
Contact, M (SD)	4.98 (.23)	4.99 (.10)	4.98 (.18)	4.96 (.24)	4.96 (.25)	4.95 (.30)
Child, n (%)	343 (72.7)	316 (86.3)	346 (87.6)	269 (90.9)	446 (90.3)	163 (91.6)
No. of children, M (SD)	2.3 (1.2)	2.6 (1.4)	2.9 (1.5)	3.0 (1.6)	3.3 (2.3)	3.2 (1.8)
Contact, M (SD)	4.90 (.41)	4.66 (.75)	4.46 (.77)	4.29 (.83)	4.28 (.76)	4.32 (.66)
Child age, M (SD)	9.6 (5.4)	21.0 (7.2)	22.5 (8.9)	33.9 (8.7)	42.0 (9.6)	48.5 (9.9)
Best friend, n (%)	363 (76.9)	226 (61.7)	287 (72.7)	198 (66.9)	328 (66.4)	96 (53.9)
Contact, M (SD)	4.13 (.83)	3.97 (.93)	3.92 (.84)	3.77 (.98)	4.06 (.83)	3.76 (.83)

Note. Contact frequency ranged from 1 (irregularly) to 5 (every day/live together).