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Tie strength and family formation: Which personal relationships are influential?
Author(s) -
KEIM SYLVIA,
KLÄRNER ANDREAS,
BERNARDI LAURA
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
personal relationships
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.81
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1475-6811
pISSN - 1350-4126
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2012.01418.x
Subject(s) - psychology , family ties , interpersonal ties , developmental psychology , social psychology , qualitative analysis , qualitative research , sociology , genealogy , social science , history
Abstract On the basis of the analysis of qualitative interviews in Western Germany, it has been argued that personal relationships have a strong impact on individuals' family formation processes and childbearing intentions. Persons who influence individuals' childbearing choices were identified. Strong ties, such as among core family members (i.e., parents and siblings), are an important contributing factor, but the authors are also able to show that weak ties, such as those among colleagues and acquaintances, need to be considered when examining social influence on family formation processes. Apart from single network partners, influential groups of persons have been identified. Such groups serve as a comparative standard regarding the timing of having one's first child and subsequent children.