I could easily see this going the other way. Life long single people develop strong social networks that they keep investing in into old age. Married (and with children especially!) couples invest less time in their social network, in old age they then have many fewer friends when their children leave and their spouse passes.
(I'm not sure this is true or not, but seems plausible. I agree with the author that we should get better data to resolve these questions).
(I'm not sure this is true or not, but seems plausible. I agree with the author that we should get better data to resolve these questions).