STARKER, JOAN ELLEN; PHD
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY, 1988
SOCIOLOGY, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY STUDIES (0628)
A critical factor influencing adaptation to a new city is an individual's social
network. The very nature of
moving, however, necessitates both the loss of previous social ties and the
building of a new social
network. There has been an absence of attention in previous research to the
way in which networks
evolve and change over time. This descriptive study investigated the development
of a social network
following geographic relocation. The sample consisted of seventy newly relocated,
married males and
females. Two structured interviews were completed three months apart. The data
were analyzed using
decriptive and correlational statistics. The results indicated that the size
of the new social network
changed little over time but did not reach the premove network size. There was
an increase in levels of
intimacy and the amount of social and community activity over time although
pre-move levels were not
attained. The building of a new network requires a considerable amount of time.
A cross-sectional
analysis of pre-move network data indicated it takes between 2.5 to 4.5 years
in a community to attain
stable levels of intimacy. Subjects relied on their spouses for support; they
received minimal social
support from their new network members at time one and time two. Moreover, the
new social networks
were in transition and unstable. The majority of the network members named at
time one were deleted at
time two. Lack of time and work commitments were perceived as main obstacles
to network
development. Results showed that characteristics of the individual impact the
development of a social
network and the mobilization of social support. Gender, employment status, and
social competence were
the factors that most strongly influenced the social network. Although this
sample was not characterized
by high stress, health, finances, and work were the primary stressors. The subjects
were relatively
satisfied with all areas of their lives except for friendships. With the exception
of homemakers, there was
an increase in dissatisfaction with friendships over time. Implications for
the corporation, the community,
and the clinician are discussed.
Social
Systems Simulation Group
P.O. Box 6904 San Diego, CA 92166-0904 Roland Werner, Principal Phone/FAX (619) 660-1603 |