ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the literatures on social relations, stress, and well-being over the life span. It presents a theoretical framework that places the conceptualization and assessment of individual productivity within the context of economic and primary social relationship networks. The chapter focuses on the nature and implications of productive activities within these networks for individual stress and well-being over the life course. Social relationships are hierarchical, developmental, and causally related to antecedent and consequent events. The social economy network provides the link between individuals and the underlying feelings of trust and stability that are necessary for the operation of irregular economic activities. Economic necessity and blocked access are predicted to have the strongest influence on involvement in irregular and social economic network activity. Although life-course continuity of participation in the irregular and social economy networks is likely, it is expected that involvement may demonstrate qualitative or quantitative differences at different points in the life span.
