An examination of family and social support networks as a function of ethnicity and gender: a descriptive study of youths from three ethnic reference groups

The family and social network support of adolescents in three ethnic groups (African-American, Caucasian, and Latino) were studied. A repeated-measures MANOVA was performed using a within-subjects design to examine how adolescents appraised the quality of their relationships with various members of their social networks. Overall, the quality of support did not vary significantly across ethnic groups. However, they varied within groups. Interactions by gender and ethnicity emerged across specific subscales that represent support for personal development.