An issue currently facing the African-American community is the incidence of divorce, which is presently at a higher rate than that of other groups. This study focused on the supportive networks of African-American couples utilizing a network analysis approach to examine the relationship between the networks, and marital satisfaction among the couples. Network analysis includes information about the size, density, frequency, intensity, and source of network support. The 1987 National Survey of Families and Households served as data source. For the purposes of this study, respondents who were African-American, married, and aged 19 and over were identified, thus yielding a total of 805 respondents. Focus was on role strain, social support, and marital satisfaction. Results of the analyses suggest that when a wide variety of members of the support network provide assistance and when spouses perceive themselves as giving and receiving high levels of household assistance, they tend to report higher levels of role strain. In addition, when respondents receive advice from a greater number of sources and when they receive help with household duties from fewer sources, they perceive their marriages as more rewarding. These results suggest that high levels of instrumental assistance from the social support network is associated with greater role strain and lower marital satisfaction, while high levels of emotional support are associated with higher levels of marital satisfaction. (ABL)