WOMENS SOCIAL NETWORKS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT FOLLOWING MARITAL SEPARATION - A CONTROLLED PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

This research compared changes in the social networks and social suppo rt of 30 low-income single mothers who had been separated from their h usbands for less than eight months with 20 low-income married women an d 40 high-income married women. All participants were interviewed thre e times over an 18-month period. The separated women reported smaller family networks (due to the absence of their husbands and their husban ds' families) and more fluctuation in their friendship and professiona l networks. The separated women reported seeking and receiving social support at higher rates than both groups of married women at the initi al interview, but this diminished greatly with the passage of time. Wh ile the separated women reported conflict with more network members th an both groups of married women, they did not differ from the married women on satisfaction with several types of social support. Implicatio ns of this research for practice and for future research were discusse d.