THE INFLUENCE OF THE SOCIAL NETWORKS 2ND-ORDER ZONE ON SOCIAL SUPPORTMOBILIZATION - A CASE EXAMPLE

Although social support researchers have long acknowledged the utility of social network analysis, few have shown the scope of analysis that is most useful to understanding how our social ties 'buffer' us from adversity and 'channel' us to other resources in times of trouble or t ransition. For the most part, researchers have limited their analyses to what Barnes (1969) and Mitchell (1969) call the 'primary zone' (the links among and between the support receiver and those persons direct ly linked to him or her). In this article, it is suggested that expand ing analysis to the network's 'second-order zone' (the primary zone pl us the ties between persons tied directly to support providers, but no t to the receiver) enhances understanding of social support outcomes. To explore this thesis, the article examines social support and social network data from a field study of social support mobilization among low-income African-American women household heads in Chicago. I first attempt to explain observed social support outcomes by reference to pr imary zone variables (density and percentage of ties of 'high' versus 'low' intensity). These are found to be only partially successful. Nex t, second-order zone variables are added to the analysis. This improve s our ability to explain outcomes. It is suggested future social suppo rt analysis should encompass the second-order zone.