Gaelle Aeby

Collecting family network data

Contemporary family contexts are characterized by a complex web of relationships, which goes beyond the household boundaries. Indeed, individuals develop meaningful relationships with non-residential family members, close friends, neighbors, colleagues, etc. Unfortunately, most surveys dealing with family ties focus on households and study a few dyads, mainly couple and parent–child relationships. This contribution addresses the use of social network methods for the understanding of the social matrix of family interdependencies in which individuals are embedded. Social network methods broaden the definition of family by starting with the individuals’ own definition of their meaningful family context. They also allow the mapping of family networks based on the interdependencies existing among all family members. This contribution describes the use of social network methods in relation to three main settings: individuals in national representative surveys, individuals facing a family recomposition after divorce, and individuals in psychotherapy. In the light of the pluralization of life trajectories and the individualization of personal relationships, the proposed approach may significantly contribute to the understanding of the relationships that matter for individuals in contemporary societies, and of the creation of family-based social capital.

Prevalence and Associated Factors for Chlamydia trachomatis Infection Among Undocumented Immigrants in a Primary Care Facility in Geneva, Switzerland: A Cross-Sectional Study

Chlamydia trachomatis infection (CTI) is the most frequent sexually transmitted infection in western countries. Its prevalence in undocumented immigrants, a rapidly growing vulnerable population, remains unknown. We aimed to document the prevalence of CTI and associated factors at the primary health care level. This cross-sectional study included all undocumented immigrants attending a health care facility in Geneva, Switzerland. Participants completed a questionnaire and were tested for CTI by PCR assay. Three-hundred thirteen undocumented immigrants (68.4% female, mean age 32.4 (SD 8) years) agreed to participate. CTI prevalence was 5.8% (95% CI 3.3–8.4). Factors associated with higher prevalence were age ≤25 (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.3–12.2) and having had two or more sexual partners during the precedent year (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.5–13.7). Prevalence and associated factors for infection in this vulnerable population were comparable with other populations in Western countries. Our findings support the importance of facilitating access to existing screening opportunities in particular to individuals at higher risk.

Le ricomposizioni familiari in una prospettiva configurativa

This article offers a configurational insight on the issue of family recomposition after separation or divorce. Stepfamilies are often regarded as lacking social capital and therefore putting at risk their members, especially children. Results from a study based on 300 women with a biological child, half from a first-time family, and half from a stepfamily, reveals that a variety of family configurations characterize stepfamilies, with distinct consequences for social capital. Results are discussed in the light of the configurational perspective on families.

Changing Meanings of Family in Personal Relationships: A Comparative Perspective

Family relationships in late modernity are considered to be embedded in wider processes of closeness and commitment, which go beyond blood and alliance principles. The aim of this chapter is to identify who is perceived as family in personal relationships and to examine the overlap between personal configurations and family networks. Despite some blurring of ties, findings show that there continue to be fairly clear boundaries between kin and non-kin ties in the predominant meanings of family. The salience of close kin ties emerges in all three countries, as well as the focus on long-lasting friendship; but there are country-specific aspects with regard to the categories and number of ties imbued with family meaning, the degree of overlap, and the types of family network.

Understanding Personal Networks as Social Capital

The main aim of this chapter is to compare the social capital structures produced by personal networks in Portugal, Switzerland, and Lithuania. On the one hand, we hypothesise that the type of social capital is primarily associated with the composition of personal configurations. On the other hand, we also expect that social capital structures are shaped by the constraints and opportunities associated with different welfare regimes, social policies, and level of social development in each country. Findings show that both Portuguese and Lithuanian networks are characterised by a bonding type of social capital, although in Portugal the interdependencies rely on the exchange of emotional support, whereas in Lithuania the interdependencies stem from face-to-face interactions. Switzerland, in contrast, is characterised by a bridging type of social capital.

Mapping the Plurality of Personal Configurations

The aim of this chapter is to map the variety of personal configurations by focusing on personal ties regarded as important. The configurational perspective emphasizes the inclusion of different kinds of close ties that go beyond kin, co-residence, and genealogical proximity in personal relationships. In order to identify the diversity of arrangements, we present a typology of personal configurations and compare their importance across three different countries, controlling for individuals’ position in social and family structures. Results show that while the family of procreation and parents are important overall, there are different patterns of sociability across countries: more inclusive of extended kin in Portugal, more inclusive of non-kin (friends) in Switzerland, and more focused on the nuclear family in Lithuania.

A First Portrait of Personal Networks in a Comparative Perspective

In order to understand how changing trends of individualization and pluralization have been affecting personal networks in the three countries, this chapter provides an overview of the core characteristics of personal networks in Portugal, Switzerland, and Lithuania. First, we compare the size and composition of personal networks across the three countries, by highlighting the commonalities and differences. Secondly, we examine how the characteristics of personal networks are shaped by individuals’ birth-cohort, structural conditions, and normative contexts. Findings show that the underlying mechanisms of proximity linked to kinship, friendship, co-residency, long-lasting acquaintanceship, and gender homophily are differently valued in the three countries. These differences are discussed in the light of individuals’ social context, but also according to national historical pathways, welfare regimes, and social-economic conditions.

Linking family trajectories and personal networks

The share of family and non-family ties in personal networks varies not only across the life course following major transitions and events but also according to the type of welfare state in which individual lives unfold. Using network and sequence analyses, this chapter investigates for two birth cohorts (1950–1955 and 1970–1975) how the composition of personal networks is influenced by past co-residence trajectories (from 1990 to 2010) in three European countries (Switzerland, Portugal, and Lithuania). The resulting co-residence trajectories capture a great variety of situations characterized by conjugal status as well as the presence and age of children. Network analyses reveal a focus on the nuclear family of procreation, although highlighting national differences regarding the inclusion of extended kin and non-kin.

Trugbilder des Erwachsenenlebens

Bei unserer Studie zu den Identitatsprozessen, die von jungen Menschen beider Geschlechter in offenen Genfer Jugendheimen durchlebt werden, wollten wir uns ursprunglich nur mit bestimmten Praktiken und Konzepten im Zusammenhang mit unserer Problemstellung befassen – der Frage, wie die Jugendlichen und die Mitglieder der Betreuungsteams die Bezugssysteme der Zugehorigkeit und die damit verbundenen Gefuhle in Szene setzen.