Changes in the Friend Network During the First Year of Single Parenthood for Mexican American and Anglo Women

This study explores ethnic differences in the restructuring of the friendship network during the first year after a woman becomes a single parent. Research on a sample of 232 Mexican American and white ("Anglo") women in San Jose, California, indicates that they had different "networking styles" at the beginning of this transition period, but over time the similarities became more pronounced. The Anglos had fewer relatives available and they were more focused on the friend network as a source of support. Although they experienced disruption of relationships due to geographic relocation, the Anglos reported larger numbers of close friends and greater desire for further expansion of the network. The second and third generation Mexican American (the "Chicanas") remained geographically closer to their networks, but they are experienced greater social complications and personal reactions that affected these relationships. Although there were intitial differences by ethnicity in styles of networking, the friend network became more important over time. The women shared a general tendency for reliance on family to be replaced by increasing involvement with friends. Differences within the close support network were eroded due to the common life circumstances experienced by single mothers. The first generation Mexican American women were somewhat of an exception in that they remained more kin-oriented. despite their geographic removal from relatives throughout the Southwest and in Mexico. Consequently, they were the most socially isolated in the sample. Implications are discussed for social programs serving single parent populations.