Table 2.

Mean comparison of each social network characteristic in Wave 4 and Wave 6 (weighted)

	Wave 4	Wave 6	Difference	T test
Social network size	2.56	2.68	0.12	4.32***
Proportion kin	80.39	81.54	1.15	2.00*
Mean contact frequency	6.11	6.13	0.03	1.22
Mean emotional closeness	3.18	3.17	− 0.01	− 0.49
Number of confidants mentioned only in one wavea	1.11	1.23	0.12	4.29***

*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001

^aWave 4—lost confidants, Wave 6—new confidants