Identifier
etd-0211103-135707
Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Sociology
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
Recent studies have documented (1) the direct effects of social network context on perceived adequacy of social support and (2) the indirect effects of social network context, through social support, on psychological well-being. This thesis extends that research by asking how religious homophily in social networks affects individual perceptions of support and, through that, psychological well-being (depression). Results indicate that being embedded in a network with greater religious homophily increases perceived support, but this relationship holds only for instrumental support. Additionally, both instrumental and expressive support exert significant affects on psychological well-being: greater perceived adequacy of support (both instrumental and expressive) decreases reports of depression. These findings suggest that future research in this area should explore more fully how specific types of homophily affect social support and depression.
Date
2003
Document Availability at the Time of Submission
Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.
Recommended Citation
Robicheaux, Sally, "Perceptions of social support within the context of religious homophily: a social network analysis" (2003). LSU Master's Theses. 166.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/166
Committee Chair
Jeanne S. Hurlbert,
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_theses.166