Social Networks and Extended Families

Book Chapter Introduction

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Individuals, couples, and families exist within wider interactive worlds. These wider circles of social networks and extended families take on new forms and nuances in every era. In the new millennium, prominent shifts in these domains have been characterized by the rapid development of new communication technologies (Antonucci et at., 2019) and the prevalence of increasing diversity in family structures and norms (e.g., cohabiting relationships, same-sex relationships, postdivorce families; Ganong et at., 2015). This chapter takes up the challenge of synthesizing the latest research on interactive connections between the wider circles of social networks and family dynamics. We focus primarily on research conducted in North America but also refer to cultural variation where data are available.