Table 3.
Alter-Level Measures Describing Stable, Lost, and New Confidant Ties (Unweighted)a
| Measureb | Average values for | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stable confidants, at | Lost confidants (N = 3,193) | New confidants (N = 3,761) | ||
| W1 (N = 4,064) | W2 (N = 4,064) | |||
| Kin relationship | 0.78 (0.42) | 0.78 (0.41) | 0.48 (0.50) | 0.47 (0.50) |
| Coresident status | 0.24 (0.43) | 0.25 (0.43) | 0.06 (0.25) | 0.05 (0.21) |
| Emotional closeness to alters (1–4) | 3.32 (0.67) | 3.29 (0.66) | 2.84 (0.76) | 2.76 (0.74) |
| Frequency of contact with alters (1–8) | 7.07 (1.10) | 7.02 (1.15) | 6.34 (1.41) | 6.36 (1.38) |
| Likelihood of discussing health with alters (1–3) | 2.72 (0.56) | 2.72 (0.55) | 2.35 (0.77) | 2.34 (0.76) |
| Frequency of contact between alters (0–8) | 4.53 (2.01) | 4.44 (0.55) | 3.51 (2.18) | 3.62 (2.17) |
| Length of time ego has known alters (1–4) | — | — | — | 3.69 (0.68) |
| Number of observations per respondent | 1.84 (1.22) | 1.84 (1.22) | 1.44 (1.27) | 1.70 (1.36) |
Notes. aEstimates are drawn from all respondents for whom valid data were available for a given variable, ignoring those who had any trouble with the roster matching exercise and/or who had missing data on any alter. Standard deviations appear in parentheses below the relevant measure.
bAll estimates refer to confidants (Roster A) only. W2 confidants who were in Roster B or C at W1 are not considered "new," just as W1 confidants who are in Roster B or C at W2 not treated as either "lost" or "stable."