Expectations and reality of support sharing within personal networks in economically hard times: the case of Lithuania

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Asmeniniai tinklai; Dalijimosi parama; Ekonominis sunkmetis; Individualus asmeninis tinklas; Parama; Šeimos politika; Šeimos ryšiai; Economic in hard times; Family networks; Family politics; Individual personal network; Lithuania; Personal networks; Support; Support sharing.

ENThe research presented in the chapter aimed to explore interrelations among support sharing, personal networks and family practices in the face of economically hard times in Lithuania. Several hypotheses were formulated and tested which helped us to better understand the intricacies of support in personal and family networks. Interestingly, the reception of support did not relate to specific types of problems. In essence, a person having experienced a financial problem has no higher chance of receiving financial support than receiving practical support or emotional support. Support in family and personal networks are not specialized but rather have a generalistic orientation in which various kinds of support may intermingle. This makes the family a rather comprehensive source of support for individuals, although the extent to which this unit is able to address all the basic needs of individuals was not considered in this study. Support is mostly exchanged between the respondents, their adult children, their siblings and parents. Therefore, the nuclear family of origin (which is sometimes called the “family of orientation”) plays a critical role in supportive interactions among network members. As stressed in other publications (Bengston, 2001), the isolation of the family household and the nuclear family defined as a residential unit are rejected by the empirical analysis. Indeed, intergenerational family relationships, as well as sibling relationships between adults, constitute the backbones of solidarity practices occuring in personal networks in Lituania. Far from being obliterated by the pluralization of life courses, such principles of solidarity remain active in the younger generation as well as in the older ones.The differences across generations are indeed rather small and for the most part explainable by the specific life stage in which the younger generation stands at the time of the survey. What truly matters for the provision or reception of support rather are family practices: regular interactions are a major incentive to develop support. This may show the limitation of family support in a time faced by generalized migration, by which such regular interactions might be jeopardized. [Extract, p. 124]