Social network dynamics in the course of family formation: Results from a mixed-methods longitudinal study

• Authors: Andreas Klärner , Sylvia Keim , Holger von der Lippe
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

In this article we examine the relationship between various biographical transitions of young adulthood and the structure of social networks. We ask how personal networks change in size and composition over the course of family formation or expansion, and due to other biographical transitions. We use data from an exploratory longitudinal study that uses mixed methods of social network analysis. We were able to reconnect with 29 of 98 young adults who were interviewed from 2004 to 2006, and conducted detailed qualitative interviews with 18 of them in 2011. Our findings suggest that biographical transitions do rather have an effect on the composition than on the size of personal networks. Biographical transitions do not necessarily lead to a decrease in network size due to network partners dropping out. These network partners often get substituted by new network partners that match changing priorities in different life stages. Particularly important transitions are the interviewees’ own parenthood, as well as the parenthood of their network partners. Transitions in relationship status, relocations, and job changes were also identified as relevant biographical transitions.

Keywords

EN

social networks; network dynamics; family formation; mixed methods; longitudinal analysis; tie churn

• Publisher: Sciendo
• Journal: International Review of Social Research
• Year: 2016
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 245-255

Dates

published

2016-10-01

received

2016-02-17

accepted

2016-06-09

online

2016-11-17

Contributors

author

Andreas Klärner

• Institute of Sociology and Demographic Research, University of Rostock, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Ulmenstr. 69, D-18057 Rostock,

author

Sylvia Keim

• Institute of Sociology and Demographic Research, University of Rostock, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Ulmenstr. 69, D-18057 Rostock,

author

Holger von der Lippe

• Medical School Berlin, Faculty of Health Sciences, Calandrellistr. 1-9, D-12247 Berlin

Identifiers

DOI

10.1515/irsr-2016-0026