Convoys of social support in childhood and early adolescence: Structure and function.

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Little is known about social networks in childhood, and even less is known about the networks of ethnically diverse children. Interviews were conducted with 333 African-American, Anglo/European-American, and Hispanic-American public school children in Grades 1-2, 4-5, and 8-9. The research was based on the social convoy model (R. L. Kahn & T. C. Antonucci, 1980), in which social networks are viewed as dynamic hierarchic structures affording the provision of support across the life span. An adapted convoy mapping procedure evidenced good test-retest reliability at all ages, and convoy support measures were associated with self-concept and teacher-rated sociability and mood