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ex-kin, the strong impact of past co-residence, and an orientation towards
cross-gender rather than same-gender preferences.
As a result of these trends, the main configurations of personal net-
works were found to be at the same time diverse and limited in num-
ber, thereby highlighting a bounded pluralization, shaped by a set of
micro and macro factors. Such pluralization is organized around the
following four main sets of configurations: Nuclear configurations cen-
tred on partners and children represent almost one in three networks
and take two main forms—Standard-nuclear and Narrow-nuclear,
thereby revealing the above-mentioned focus on the family of procre-
ation. Family of origin configurations focusing on blood relatives from
the family of orientation also emerge in two main patterns -Parent and
Sibling-oriented configurations. The third main set of configurations
reveals the strong presence of non-kin ties, either in the form of
Friendship or Wo rk-oriented personal networks. Lastly, extended kin
types of configurations, centred both on partners and a greater variety
of blood and alliance kin relationships, emerge in Beanpole configura-
tions involving grandparents, their children, and their grandchildren,
and in Extended conjugal configurations, with the latter focusing on
partners as well as on parents, in-laws, and collaterals. Beyond these
four broad patterns, three of which may be seen to predominantly
involve kinship ties, two residual types of configurations were found:
Mixed configurations focusing on a variety of kin and non-kin ties with-
out a partner; and Alone or empty configurations. In terms of the pat-
terning of solidarity within these configurations of personal networks,
those focusing on the family of procreation were found to develop
more bonding social capital, with a high density of interactions and
emotional support and a low level of centralization. In contrast,
Friendship and Wo rk-oriented configurations showed a strong trend
towards bridging social capital, associated with a lower density of both
interactions and emotional support and high levels of centralization.
The other configurations feature elements of both bridging and bond-
ing social capital to varying degrees.
The impacts of birth cohort, social position, attitudes, and life trajec-
tories on the above-mentioned personal configurations reveal many strik-
ing commonalities across the three countries. Largely due to life course
K. Wall et al.