“…The African American extended family is characterized by a familial interaction network involving relatives, friends, and neighbors who provide emotional and economic support (Cazenave and Smith, 1990;Martin and Martin, 1978;McAdoo, 1978McAdoo, , 1982Slaughter and Dilworth-Anderson, 1988). Consistent findings in the research on social networks are frequent socializing among African American family members (Aoyagi, 1978;Hale, 1982;McLanahan, Wedemeyer, and Adelberg, 198l), a high degree of residential propensity among related households (Aschenbrenner, 1983;Martin and Martin, 1978;Stack, 1974;Wilson, 1984), and emphasis on participation in family occasions, especially funerals, holiday celebrations, and birthdays (Aschenbrenner, 1983;Martin and Martin, 1978;McAdoo, 1978;Stack, 1974). For example, African American women often list relatives as friendship contacts (Hale, 1982;Mclanahan, Wedemeyer, and Adelbery, 1981;Martin and Martin, 1978;Stack, 1974).…”