ERIC Number: ED357873
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1992
Pages: 12
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
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Available Date: N/A
Perceptions of Social Networks among Adolescents from Three Cultures.
Harrison, Algea; And Others
This document reports the results of a cross-cultural study of adolescents' assessments of the quality of their relationships. Subjects were 13- to 15-year-old adolescents in Nanjing, China (N=53), a metropolitan area in the midwestern United States (N=53), and Harare, Zimbabwe. The adolescents in Zimbabwe were members of the Shona tribe (N=37). The Network of Relationships Inventory was used to assess nine relationship qualities: (1) reliability; (2) enhancement of worth; (3) affection; (4) instrumental help; (5) companionship; (6) intimacy; (7) conflict; (8) satisfaction; and (9) discipline. The subjects rated each of these qualities in their relationships with their mother, father, favorite relative, teacher, sibling, and best friend. Results indicated that adolescents in Zimbabwe perceived few differences between members of their social network. Chinese adolescents perceived their social networks in three subgroups: parents, nonparental adults, and peers. For American adolescents, major differences in the scoring patterns for the different relationships were found. Adolescents in Zimbabwe perceived their needs as met by all members of their social network more so than did Chinese or American adolescents; and held their teachers in higher esteem than did Chinese or American adolescents. American adolescents relied more on their parents and siblings than on other individuals to provide for their social needs; and rated relatives higher in affection and intimacy than did adolescents in China and Zimbabwe. Chinese adolescents' perception of intimacy in their social network was lower than that of adolescents in the United States and Zimbabwe. Data was presented in tabular form. (BC)
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China; United States; Zimbabwe
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