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Social Support in America: Stratification and Trends in Access over Two Decades
Ashton M Verdery1, Colin Campbell2
1The Pennsylvania State University.
Social Forces; a Scientific Medium of Social Study and Interpretation
|June 20, 2025
Summary
Access to social support from family and friends varies across demographic groups and has changed over time. This study provides the first nationally representative analysis of these trends in the United States.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Public Health
- Social Gerontology
Background:
- Social networks are crucial resources for individuals in times of need.
- Social support, a form of social capital, is often studied as a predictor of outcomes.
- Limited research exists on population-level access to social support and its changes over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine demographic differentials in access to social support from family and friends.
- To describe trends in social support access within the general population.
- To present the first nationally representative study on social support access stratification and trends in the U.S.
Main Methods:
- Utilized repeated cross-sectional data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation.
- Analyzed nearly two decades of survey data for national representativeness.
- Compared access levels across population subgroups and over time.
Main Results:
- Social support access is not uniformly distributed across the population.
- Significant demographic variations exist in access to social support.
- Trends indicate shifts in social support access over the past two decades.
Conclusions:
- Access to social support is stratified by demographic factors.
- Understanding these patterns is crucial for public health and social policy.
- Further research should explore the implications of these changing trends.
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