Patterns of informal support from family and church members among African Americans
editExamined the family and church factors that predict social support from family and church members among African Americans. 2,107 African Americans completed interviews during the period 1979-1980 concerning: (1) demographic, family, and church power dissipation factors that predict family and church support configurations; and (2) specific patterns of assistance from the family and church members. Results show that 55.3% of subjects (Ss) received assistance from both family and church networks, 26.9% received assistance from family only, and 8.2% received help from church members only. 9.6% of Ss did not receive help from either family or church members. There were significant age, gender, marital status, and parental status differences in patterns of support from family and church. Perceptions of family closeness, degree of interaction with family, and overall levels of participation in church activities were associated with distinctive patterns of assistance.