On some friends of the sociable numbers

Let s(n) denote the sum of the proper divisors of n. Set s ₀(n) = n, and for k > 0, put s _k (n) := s(s _k-1(n)) if s _k-1(n) > 0. Thus, perfect numbers are those n with s(n)?=?n and amicable numbers are those n with s(n) ?? n but s ₂(n)?=?n. We prove that for each fixed k ?? 1, the set of n which divide s _k (n) has density zero, and similarly for the set of n for which s _k (n) divides n. These results generalize the theorem of Erd?s that for each fixed k, the set of n for which s _k (n)?=?n has density zero.