DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL NETWORKS FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD: STABILITY OR CHANGE?

Abstract

Social networks change over the adult lifespan and have long lasting effects on health and well-being. To date, it is unclear whether adult social networks have early childhood origins. The purpose of this study was to identify typologies of social network structure (e.g. size, composition, contact frequency) in childhood and whether social network characteristics remain stable or change as children develop into young adults. Participants included 203 children (ages 7–14; 52% girls) in 1992 from the Detroit metropolitan area who were re-interviewed in 2005 (n=149), and 2015 (n=114). Latent profile models of childhood social networks revealed three typologies that were all family-centric, but varied in size and composition. Multilevel models indicated trajectories of social networks varied by childhood network typology such that the close family typology showed the most change over time. These findings indicate that distinct, meaningful, and changing models can be identified in childhood, early and young adulthood.