GENDER, FAMILY-STRUCTURE, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT AMONG PARENTS

Using 1987-88 National Survey of Families and Households data from res idential parents of young children (n = 5,686) this study describes di fferences by gender and family structure in social support relationshi ps with parents, siblings, other relatives, and friends. Mothers, over all, are more involved in giving and getting support, especially emoti onal support, than fathers. When contrasted with traditional family pa rents, fathers in nontraditional two-parent families show more evidenc e of reduced kin interaction than mothers. Single mothers and fathers are more involved with parents, and single mothers extend this increas ed involvement to relationships with siblings. But beyond this it is f riends, not other kin, who figure most prominently in the social suppo rt relationships of nontraditional families.