Development of social convoys: Trajectories of convoy structure and composition from childhood through adulthood

Personal networks undergo changes in structure and composition throughout the life span, adapting to developmental transitions and changing circumstances in a dynamic way. This study examines stability and change in social convoys from childhood to adulthood and variation in trajectories of convoy characteristics by gender and race. Multilevel models for convoy structure and composition characteristics were estimated using three waves of longitudinal data spanning 23 years. The regionally representative sample included 193 children aged 8 to 12 in Wave 1 (1992) who were surveyed again in their 20s (Wave 2) and 30s (Wave 3). The Wave 1 sample comprised 52% girls, 32% Black children, and 59% White children with average maternal educational attainment of 13 years. Overall, changes in composition, proximity, and contact frequency were observed at each wave. Between Waves 1 and 2, the changes reflect age-normative trends toward network diversification typical of the transition to adulthood, whereas between Waves 2 and 3, the changes were consistent with those expected as young adults settle into stable roles. We also identified convoy characteristics that differed between men and women and between Black and White individuals, emphasizing the importance of considering personal characteristics to fully understand form and function of social relations. Social convoy trajectories early in the life span provide direction for more in-depth examinations of the implications of social ties during these critical life periods. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).