LATE-LIFE SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS - DOES RACE AFFECT TYPOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION

Using a typology of sibling relationships in old age (Gold, 1989a), effects of race on distribution of relationships were studied. Differences between elderly white and black sibling pairs on several dimensions were also examined. Analyses of interview data suggest that race is systematically related to distribution, but that other demographic variables do not significantly affect the distribution of dyads among categories in the typology. Using log linear models, it was shown that the interaction between race, type, and dyadic gender composition was significant. Data also suggest that black dyads are represented more frequently in the positive categories, and white dyads are more likely to be categorized as “apathetic” or “hostile.”. © 1990 by The Cerontological Society of America.