Social distance in France: Evolution of homogeneity within personal networks from 2001 to 2017

Guillaume Favre (1) , Julien Figeac (1) , Michel Grossetti (1) , Benoît Tudoux (2)

1 LISST - Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Solidarités, Sociétés, Territoires
2 ISP - Institut des Sciences sociales du Politique

This article explores the evolution of homogeneity within personal networks in France over time and across several relational contexts, using two cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2001 (n = 399) and 2017 (n = 663). Personal networks have changed relatively little overall, but with a tendency toward more homogeneity among the most educated, 26–45 and 61− 75 year-olds, singles, and childless individuals. Differences in rates of personal network homogeneity are only partly explained by demographic shifts in French society. These findings are mostly consistent with those of other studies in Hungary and the USA. We argue that the effects of rising edu- cation levels, the segmentation of social contexts in terms of age, and the transformation of family models – which can be observed in most western countries – reinforce relational spheres characterized by relatively similar lifestyles.

Mots clés: Personal networks; Homogeneity; Homophily; Segregation; Name generators

Domaines: Sociologie

Guillaume Favre, Julien Figeac, Michel Grossetti, Benoît Tudoux. Social distance in France: Evolution of homogeneity within personal networks from 2001 to 2017. Social Networks, 2022, 68, pp.70-83. ⟨10.1016/j.socnet.2021.05.001⟩. ⟨halshs-03227130⟩