Structural and qualitative aspects of social networks in families with young chronically III children

Three aspects of social networks were compared for a group of 45 families with young children with phenylketonuria (PKU) and group of 49 matched comparison families. While few statistically significant group differences were reported with respect to social network size and density, differences in qualitative aspects of social support were found to be important. Consistent relationships between lower psychological stress and larger, less dense, parental networks emerge for both groups of families. The results are discussed in relation to previous research on social networks and stress and coping in families with chronically ill children.