Abstract

SEIBEL, Bruna Larissa et al. Social support and family functioning: longitudinal study of vulnerable families. Pensando fam. [online]. 2017, vol.21, n.1, pp. 120-136. ISSN 1679-494X.

This study aims to verify if the caregivers’ quality of the social support influences family longitudinaly. Data are part of a wider study, which followed 148 families living in Porto Alegre city for 15 years. For this study, it was used the Global Assessment of Relational Functioning Scale (GARF) to assess family functioning, and a five-point scale assigned by a pair of researchers after observing aspects of members’ social support. Chi-square and Generalized Estimating Equation analysis indicated differences in social support according to the family configuration. In addition, the social assigned by a pair support was associated to the quality of family functioning. This analysis also was impacted by different stages through the lifespam, showing longitudinal effect of this association. The results indicated the protective role of caregivers’ social support on family functioning.

Keywords : Social support; Family functioning; Longitudinal study; Life spam; Family.

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