Ego-Centric Kinship Networks: Dynamics of Family Ties in Italy

Elena Pirani , University of Florence
Maria Francesca Marino, University of Florence

Rising longevity and declining fertility have profoundly transformed family structures across Western societies, producing smaller, older, and more complex kinship networks. These demographic shifts are expected to intensify in the coming decades, with significant implications for social support and resilience. This study investigates the structure and dynamics of nuclear and extended kinship networks in Italy, a context characterized by strong family solidarity, high intergenerational contact, and limited formal care alternatives. Respondents reported information on a wide range of relatives – including parents, children, siblings, aunts/uncles, nieces/nephews, and cousins – allowing the reconstruction of their egocentric family networks. We employ ordinal probit models with random effects to examine how the frequency of contact between the ego and their alters varies according to the socio-demographic characteristics of both, accounting for the hierarchical structure of alters nested within egos. We expect intergenerational ties to play a central role in adults’ social integration, with younger kin occupying more central positions in personal networks. In the absence of vertical ties, horizontal relationships (e.g., siblings, cousins) may compensate by maintaining social connectedness. We also hypothesize gender and education differences.

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 Presented in Session P2. Families, Fertility, and the Life Course 2