A Comparison of Family Networks and Friend Networks In Health Care Utilization

Abstract

The authors posit a model of health care utilization based upon a social network model. The independent variables in predicting delays in health care utilization are size of friend network, size of family network, amount of interaction with each network, and amount of role support available from the network. Hypotheses are tested using data collected in an interview study of 191 households in a Boston suburb. Correlational techniques are used for analysis. A negative relationship is found between the size of friend network and delays in health care utilization. While the size of family networks is not found to be related to utilization, the amount of role support available from the family is found to be related Jo delays in obtaining health services. It is suggested that friend networks may have more recent information about available health care facilities while family networks operate as role support systems.