Salience of Family Relationships, Social Network, and Support Part1

Families play a key role in social networks and provide emotional, financial, and social support for individuals. Yet expectations and roles within families vary globally due to differences in customs, culture, and social norms. The significance placed on family relationships also differs according to individual characteristics such as age and gender. Moreover, variations in socioeconomic conditions and social policies across countries contribute to creating different environments for families. Demographic changes such as population ageing, declining fertility rates, increasing singlehood, and migration pose challenges for families in providing support for individuals when needed. A lack of support may influence the well-being of families and individuals. How does social support provided to individuals by members of their social networks vary across nations? How are the roles of families in social networks changing? Are there differences in the types of support provided by families and non-family members? How is individual well-being influenced by family relationships and social networks?

The proposed session aims to increase understanding of socio-cultural variations in the context of social networks and the support provided by family and non-family members. We invite papers that examine family relationships and the roles of familial and non-familial relations as sources of support for individuals. We welcome papers using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches.