Please see/post/forward the attached/below call for papers in Health Psychology's special issue: The Role of Social Networks in Adult Health
Life-span developmental research has demonstrated that social networks decrease in size with age, starting as early as midlife. One explanation for this phenomenon is that people choose to focus on close family members and friends and exclude more peripheral, casual relationships. However, little research in this area has addressed the health consequences of a shrinking social network. Research in health psychology shows that close relationships are potential sources of conflict as well as satisfaction, and suggests that a broader network of support may be protective against losses experienced with aging. In addition, having a more diverse social network is associated with better health during mid- and late-adulthood including greater immunity to infectious disease, better cardiovascular health, and lower risk for mortality. Research that bridges these areas of inquiry is much needed.
We are calling for original manuscripts examining the role of social networks (including breadth, satisfaction, conflict) in adults' physical health (also broadly defined). With this call for papers, we hope to attract manuscripts that also examine potential pathways by which social network changes affect health, including health-related support exchanges, health behaviors, and physiological functioning. We welcome manuscripts that examine age differences in associations between social network changes and health or in the mechanisms linking the two. Papers addressing the effects of voluntary versus involuntary social network changes are also welcomed.
Guest editors for the special issue are Lynn Martire, PhD, Melissa Franks, PhD, and Cay Anderson-Hanley, PhD. Authors should submit a short proposal (maximum of 400 words) that outlines the plan for a full manuscript to Lynn Martire (lmm51@psu.edu) by January 1, 2013. The proposal should outline the study question, methods and findings of the proposed submission and note how the paper will align with the theme of the special issue. Submissions are due March 31, 2013. Papers should be prepared in full accord with the Health Psychology Instructions to Authors and submitted through the Manuscript Submission Portal. All manuscripts will be peer reviewed. Some papers not included in a specific special section may be accepted for publication in Health Psychology as regular papers. Please indicate in the cover letter accompanying your manuscript that you would like to have the paper considered for the Special Series on The Role of Social Networks in Adult Health.
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Cay Anderson-Hanley, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
Union College
Schenectady, NY 12308
518-388-6355 ph
518-388-6177 fax
andersoc@union.edu
http://minerva.union.edu/andersoc/
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