This study compared the effects of race, socioeconomic status, and marital status on a family's relationship with their extended family. A purposive sample was obtained from families of elementary school children in New Orleans Public Schools. Sixty-eight families representing combinations of black, white, working, middle, single, and married families were interviewed in February and March of 1987 using a scale which elicited detailed information about contact and assistance An analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, and regression analysis were used to determine the effect of the predictor variables. Distance from the extended family was the variable that accounted for the appearance that black and working class families had more contact with their extended families than white and middle class families. When distance was controlled the difference in amount of contact was not statistically significant. Single families were not found to have higher rates of contact and assistance than their married counterparts
