Network Theory

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Poverty: Influence of Social Networks in quality of life and social support |

* Abstract
Social networks are structures composed of individuals who are related to each other through relationships established in exchange material and emotional offering, therefore social support. In conditions of adversity or socially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups social network research isdirected at a structural and functional analysis to identify the impact of relationships on the network about participation, welfare and social integration of individuals. Social networks play an important role within the context of poverty, so it affects the health and quality of life of people.

* Introduction
The study of social networks has been an essential factor of analysis of the humanwithin groups and society in general, becoming one of the notable contributions of social psychology in recent times.
This has led to multiple definitions, the social network can be understood as a clearly defined set of actors are linked to each other through the establishment of social relationships (Lozares, 1996). On the other hand, Montero (2003) considers the network as a social structure inwhich individuals find protection and support that allow the satisfaction of needs thanks to the support offered in contact with the other. The networks involve therefore a pattern of resource sharing that occurs between a number of individuals directly or indirectly linked through various interactions and communications that are established spontaneously or intentionally (Light & Keller,2000), is required for such purposes the establishment of relations of trust and reciprocity between individuals who know each other personally and have a shared interest (Samper, 2004).
Social networks are created in an ongoing process of construction that occurs at the individual and collective level product of the dynamics of reciprocity established by its members, allowing resources thereof arepotentiated (Dabas, 1993) through the experience of sharing learning interaction forming an open system, multi-heterarchical (Dabas, 2006).
The various definitions of network have been aiming to understand the nature of exchange that exists in the relations of its parts thus instituting the concept of networks as social exchange structures.
From established reciprocal interaction between peoplethat make up the network establishing a social network of deliveries represented in the favors offered as a means of expression of support, which takes effect in both the affective and economically. Within a social environment in which economic conditions are unfavorable and people suffer from productive status, obtained favors from relatives become a real resource (Adler Lomnitz, 1998) which isvalid as far counteractant social setback own marginality conditions, however, this process includes the enunciation of sanctions and social regulation based network since its development in the building trust and reciprocity among its members especially the latter being a key element in promoting exchanges of support.

* Social networks
In recent years applied social research has increasedinterest in the study of the dynamics of social networks an important developmental window. This increase may be linked to the use of sophisticated methods of evaluation such as Social Network Analysis (SNA) which allows to evaluate a wide range of phenomena with ease for handling a high volume of data using highly illustrative graphical models. The SNA has enabled a comprehensive understanding ofthe social structure giving an account of the own qualities of the relational plane beyond the defining attributes of actors independently and isolated (Wellman, 1999; Hawe, Webster & Shiell, 2004), thus, the evaluation of ties of members network has evolved to understanding of relational structures that emerge from human interactions in order to establish the overall network structure...