ABSTRACT

Based on exchange/equity theory, the study exploredthe views of older women in assisted living facilities regardingreciprocity of exchange of social support with a close friend.Study participants were 92 chronically ill older women aged 65 to98. In individual interviews, participants responded to 4 vignettesdepicting situations in which there was an imbalance of exchangewith a friend. Background characteristics of the participants werealso assessed. Qualitative analysis was used to examineresponses to the vignette situations. Although most of these olderwomen affirmed reciprocity norms to a degree, findings could bebetter explained by norms of altruism and of loyalty to friends,despite inequality of exchange associated with infirmities ofaging.