Household’s Social Support Networks at Cacoal (Rondônia, Brazil)

Abstract

The concepts of family and househods are constantly changing over time and space. More recently, an inversely proportional relationship between the two is on course. On the one hand, the increase in the number of households. On the other hand, the decrease in the number of its members. It is relatively common for household surveys to limit the family nucleus to the physical limits of the residence. However, it’s just an analytical strategy, since empirical evidence shows that different households based on kin or non-kin relations maintain a close dialogue with each other. They make up, therefore, a kind of network of aids and supports, material and immaterial ones. The present research intends to deal with what we call here Plurihousehold Social Support Networks (PSSN) and their characteristics. We went to the field to map them, applying the approach of social networks in two census districts in the city of Cacoal, located in the state of Rondônia (Brazil). We selected them, above all, according to the income aspect. The data suggest that their size, format and content are strongly influenced by income variable and, thus, are spatially defined according to locational predispositions, that is, according to physical-geographical proximity requirements.

Keywords:
Household’s Social Support Networks; Social Networks Analysis; Households; Family; Cacoal