1321. sredin seminar: Susanna Zaccarin: Ego-networks of Italian population: data sources and main results on young and elderly people

An ego (personal)-network is the group of individuals with whom people have direct relationships, thus reflecting the interpersonal environment in which people are embedded and from which they may derive a range of benefits. Ego-networks characteristics have an impact on individuals' instrumental achievements and well-being (through the received and provided support) and represent a resilience tool in difficult situations (e.g., economic crisis or pandemic time) and/or in specific periods of the life course, especially for selected groups (e.g., youth, elderly people, couples). Data on contacts and social relations that individuals entertain with others are often collected through large-scale surveys. Focusing on Italy, the national survey on Family and Social Subjects (FSS) is the primary statistical source to reconstruct (on the basis of several assumptions) at least two different types of ego-centered networks for the Italian population: the ego-centered network of contacts and the ego-centered network of provided support. In the talk, methodological issues in using FSS data to build ego-networks will be discussed along with main results on ego-network types of young elderly people living as single or as a partner in a couple. Recent evidence from SHARE Corona 1 and Corona 2 data collected during the COVID-9 outbreak will be also provided.