Measuring ego-centered networks from Italian multipurpose survey

International research on individual behaviour has shown the importance of the network of relationships binding the individual to the people who are close to their in everyday life. The "social space" can take shape in family, friends, workmates, or neighbors. It can generate strong or weak ties that interact with individual choices and it can take the form of emotional support, instrumental support or social companionship. For the Italian scenario, the "Famiglia e soggetti sociali" (FFS) survey of the Multipurpose Survey Program carried out by the National Statistical Agency (ISTAT) offers some challenges to measure egocentered networks and to jointly analyse individual behaviour in critical situation, even if surveys goals are not specifically oriented to network analysis. The survey is also part of a broad International Generations and Gender Program developed by UNECE. Focusing our analysis on individuals aged between 18 and 44 ys living in couple in the 2003 and 2009 FFS surveys, we measure the size and typology of the potential egocentered social support network for male and female partner by combining items from individual questionnaire on the number of siblings, children, parents, other relatives, friends, neighbours; on frequency of contacts and on residential proximity. Analysis will be carried out by different phases of family formation in which young adults are involved along with insights on the kind of help they ask. Further, a discussion on the questions format adopted in the FFS survey will be also provided as well as comparisons with different methods used in egocentered.