Role of the Extended Family in Migration and Adaptation in Brazil.

The role of the extended family as a source of information and as the basis for mutual assistance and social contact is studied among rural and urban samples in central Brazil. Chi-square tests are used to determine the presence of association between length of residence of migrants and occupational status with the extent of mutual assistance and social contact. While migrants have fewer contacts than do natives, the extent of contact tends to increase, particularly with relatives of the husband, with length of residence of the migrants. Occupational status is positively associated with extended family contacts of all types in both rural and urban samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]