 Though it is still popular in the public opinion, the phenomenon has gradually become less widely studied by sociologists since the 1970s.According to some researchers, this is due to a decrease in pseudo-family relationships in women's prisons, others have simply focused on women inmates' social groups in other ways as they believe the pseudo-family is not a distinct social phenomenon.Pseudo-families provide members with emotional and financial support, companionship, and protection from other inmates.