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Despite its negative reputation, gossip helped them connect and access less conventional social support close to home. The majority resisted formal organizations, such as churches or senior centers, and thus their interactions in public venues served as an important source of social involvement. In line with Gluckman\u2019s argument (1963), gossip betrayed emotional intimacy and caretaking that connected people who could have fallen off the social radar.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Higher rates of divorce and lifelong singlehood, coupled with increased longevity, will compel greater numbers of older adults to construct alternative support networks. My findings suggest that more will draw these connections from unconventional venues such as neighborhood public places.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/gby154","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,12,19]],"date-time":"2018-12-19T20:12:44Z","timestamp":1545250364000},"page":"1474-1482","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":33,"title":["Aging Alone, Gossiping Together: Older Adults\u2019 Talk as Social Glue"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"74","author":[{"given":"Stacy","family":"Torres","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,12,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"2019100412364471200_CIT0001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4159\/9780674286801","volume-title":"The end game: How inequality shapes our final years.","author":"Abramson","year":"2015"},{"key":"2019100412364471200_CIT0002","volume-title":"Consequential strangers: Turning everyday encounters into life-changing moments.","author":"Blau","year":"2009"},{"key":"2019100412364471200_CIT0003","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1037\/h0033027","article-title":"Communication of interpersonal evaluations","volume":"23","author":"Blumberg","year":"1972","journal-title":"Journal of Personality and Social Psychology"},{"key":"2019100412364471200_CIT0004","article-title":"Networks, neighborhoods, and institutions: An integrated \u2018activity space\u2019 approach for research on aging","volume-title":"New directions in the sociology of aging","author":"Cagney","year":"2013"},{"key":"2019100412364471200_CIT0005","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1037\/0882-7974.7.3.331","article-title":"Social and emotional patterns in adulthood: Support for socioemotional selectivity theory","volume":"7","author":"Carstensen","year":"1992","journal-title":"Psychology and Aging,"},{"key":"2019100412364471200_CIT0006","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.1016\/S0890-4065(02)00052-X","article-title":"Older adults\u2019 frequent visits to a fast-food restaurant: Nonobligatory social interaction and the significance of play in a \u201cthird place.\u201d","volume":"16","author":"Cheang","year":"2002","journal-title":"Journal of Aging Studies"},{"key":"2019100412364471200_CIT0007","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1177\/000312240807300201","article-title":"The social connectedness of older adults: A national profile*","volume":"73","author":"Cornwell","year":"2008","journal-title":"American Sociological Review,"},{"key":"2019100412364471200_CIT0008","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"799","DOI":"10.1111\/hsc.12311","article-title":"Social isolation, loneliness and health in old age: A scoping review","volume":"25","author":"Courtin","year":"2017","journal-title":"Health & Social Care in the Community,"},{"key":"2019100412364471200_CIT0009","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaging.2006.02.001","article-title":"Minding the gap: The construction of old age and oldness amongst peers","volume":"21","author":"Degnen","year":"2007","journal-title":"Journal of Aging Studies"},{"key":"2019100412364471200_CIT0010","volume-title":"To dwell among friends: Personal networks in town and city.","author":"Fischer","year":"1982"},{"key":"2019100412364471200_CIT0011","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1037\/1089-2680.8.2.78","article-title":"Research on gossip: Taxonomy, methods, and future directions","volume":"8","author":"Foster","year":"2004","journal-title":"Review of General Psychology"},{"key":"2019100412364471200_CIT0012","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3137","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.288.24.3137","article-title":"Recent trends in disability and functioning among older adults in the United States: A systematic review","volume":"288","author":"Freedman","year":"2002","journal-title":"JAMA,"},{"key":"2019100412364471200_CIT0013","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"307","DOI":"10.1086\/200378","article-title":"Papers in honor of Melville J. 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