Brothers' Keepers: Situating Kinship Relations in Broader Networks of Social Support

Abstract

The authors evaluate the importance of kin in providing four different dimensions of social support: emotional aid, services, financial aid, and companionship. The authors analysis uses both quantitative and interview data from the East York (Toronto) studies of social networks. Kin comprise slightly less than half of these networks: an average of five ties out of twelve. Parents and adult children are highly supportive network members, providing high levels of emotional aid, services and financial aid (they avoid companionship, however). Siblings complement and substitute for parents and children, especially in the provision of services. Because there are many more ties between siblings than there are between parents and children, siblings (along with friends and neighbors) provide a substantial proportion of the support East Yorkers receive. By contrast, extended kin tend to be the least supportive and least companionable of network members. If kinship systems did not keep extended kin in contact, few would be active network members.

Types of Conjugal Networks, Conjugal Conflict and Conjugal Quality

“…As a rule, closely related relatives provide a greater degree of support, and do so in a wider variety of domains, than friends and neighbours; friends are more active in terms of companionship (Coenen-Huether et al, 1994;Wellman and Wortley, 1989). Because of these variations, it has been hypothesized that network composition (friends versus relatives) has an effect on conjugal outcomes.…”

“…Based on results from previous analyses of conjugal networks (Milardo, 1988;Surra, 1988;Wellman and Wortley, 1989;Coenen-Huther et al, 1994), we focus on five dimensions of conjugal networks: size, composition (friends or relatives), activity (frequency of contacts), support available (amount and type), and the overall cohesiveness of the network (strong or weak cohesiveness, and interference of the network in the couple functioning). Available support was used instead of activated support, as various studies have shown that it has much more impact on individual outcomes (i.e.…”

Social Support in an Urban Moroccan Neighborhood: the Effects of Social Networks, Mediation and Patronage on the Physical Health and Psychological Adjustment of Women

“…7 significant proportions of kin as members (M-Thakeb, 1985). Research in the West suggests that kin relations are often characterized by increased frequencies of mutual assistance as well as the willingness to provide forms of help which may involve personal sacrifices for those giving the help (Amato, 1990;Gerstel;Leslie & Grady, 1985;Milardo, 1987;Wellman & Wortley, 1989;Zimmer & Aldrich, 1987). Al-Thakeb (1985) found the same (if not more extensive) pattern among his Kuwaiti respondents.…”

“…The proportion of kin to kith in a network often provides an important index of the commitment of the people in the network and of the level of support which can be expected from them. Although a few studies have found negligible effects of kin on support received, most find that family members provide a great deal more aid than do friends and acquaintances (Wellman, 1979;Wellman & Wortley, 1989).…”

Facial Difference, Consumer Culture and Being ‘Normal’

“…A number of studies have explored subjective perspectives on personal social networks in self-care and management of long term conditions (Vassilev et al, 2011;Morris, 2011), identity (Ketokivi , 2010(Ketokivi , , 2012 and ageing (Kahn and Antonucci, 1980;Antonucci and Akiyama 1987;Wenger 1990. Wellman and Wortley (1989) found that no single type of relationship provided support, rather it flowed through informal networks, people found different types of support from different people. Ketokivi (2010 and investigated social selves and found both individuality and social bonds emerged from relational networks.…”