Social support received by mothers of chronically ill children*

The main purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of the social networks and social support of mothers of chronically ill children and adolescents. The data collected also allowed for the identification of the predisposing factors to receiving low social support among the mothers. Receipt of social support was assessed according to six dimensions: source of support, type of support, perceived need for support, satisfaction with the quality and the quantity of support, as well as most valued source of support. Results indicate that mothers wanted more support than they received, particularly in the areas of emotional, appraisal, and informative support. Furthermore, spouses, professionals, and immediate family members were identified by mothers as important sources of support. Discriminant analysis showed that the probability of receiving low support increased if the chronically ill child was an adolescent, the father had a higher level of education, and the family income was middle-low. Results are discussed in terms of the implications for intervention.     

Loneliness and social support of mothers of chronically ill children

To address the problem of loneliness and social support in mothers of chronically ill children, we interviewed 90 mothers, among them 33 whose children suffered from a chronic life-threatening disease and 57 whose children had a chronic illness. In addition, we conducted home interviews with a control group of 92 mothers of healthy children. In responding to questions on the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire, the mothers of children with either chronic life-threatening or chronic illness revealed higher loneliness than the mothers of healthy children. Larger social networks and perceived greater support was reported by mothers whose children had a chronic life-threatening disease. In this group, no significant relationship was found between the variables of loneliness and social support; whereas, in the group with chronically ill children, and in the controls, a significant inverse relationship between the two variables was noted. Mothers of children with chronic life-threatening diseases may become subject to higher existential loneliness.     

Barriers to home care and social support for an adolescent with disability

Home care for children with disability has expanded in the last twenty years in order to support the child and family at home and avoid hospitalization or long term care facilities. A case story is presented to show several barriers to home care for a 15 year old boy with Hunter's syndrome and severe disability. The case showed a need for further education and coordination of professionals in order for pediatric home care to be more efficient and supportive in Israel.     

Children born to HIV positive mothers: Family environment, social support and care

The research describes the socio-familial environment of children born to HIV#pl mothers in Paris and the psychological repercussions within the family of the train of events following HIV infection. Two approaches have been followed, a quantitative analysis of the hospital and institutional files of 304 children and a clinical analysis based on semi-directed interviews with 25 families. The objective was to study the factors that could be involved in the separation of a child from its family, and to define guideline for prevention (family needs ...). The profiles of the families were studied as a function of whether or not their children were placed under the Child Welfare Care (Aide Sociale a I'Enfance, ASE) and of the socio-family network and support. The reorganization of the family life implies an investment in daily life as well as an improvement in living conditions, but also a restructuring of family relationships and of the entire personal and emotional sphere.     

Perception of clients when receiving home care

This qualitative and exploratory study analyzed the perception of users of the Home Care Program (SSS-GHC) in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state regarding the assistance provided by its interdisciplinary team and caretakers. Among the 17 clients interviewed, there was a prevalence of women, elderly people and chronic degenerative disease patients. As a result of the analysis it was possible to identify five categories which were related to family, professional care and experiences of the subjects in relation to life circumstances. Results showed that, according to the client's point of view, the care received was viewed as humanized and favorable to the evaluative strategy of the Program.     

The influence of stress and social support on depressive symptoms in mothers with young children

Limited research has examined the associations of stress, social support, and depression among mothers with young children over time. Longitudinal studies are needed to identify risk and protective factors for maternal depression given that depression can be cyclical and may affect women through the early years of their children’s development. This study examined the relationships among stress, social support, and depressive symptoms in a national sample of low-income urban American women with young children. A secondary data analysis of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a national longitudinal panel study of nearly 5000 births across 20 cities with populations of 200,000 or more in the United States, was conducted. The analytic sample included all mothers (N = 3675) who completed assessments at baseline through year 5 of the study between 1998 and 2005. Multivariate models using generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the probability of being depressed as a function of stress-related risk factors, social support factors, and sociodemographic variables. The rate of depression each year ranged from 15% to 21%. The results suggest that stress related to economic hardship, parenting, and poor physical health increases the risk of depression among low-income urban mothers with young children. Instrumental and partner support were found to be potential protective factors in reducing the negative effects of stress, but only to a certain degree. Future efforts are needed to strengthen social support and mitigate chronic stressors that contribute to mental health problems in low-income communities.     

Interpersonal conflict, social support, and burnout among home care workers in Japan

To examine associations between interpersonal relationships in work settings and burnout, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on home care workers in Sapporo, Japan, by using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and scales of interpersonal conflict and social support developed by the authors. Questionnaires were distributed among 303 subjects and returned by 243 subjects (80%). Complete answers were obtained from 106 subjects and were used for analysis. In multiple regression analyses, conflict with clients and their families significantly related to emotional exhaustion and depersonalization of the MBI (p<.05). Supervisory conflict significantly related to emotional exhaustion (p<.05), whereas coworker conflict significantly associated with depersonalization (p<.01). It is suggested that conflicts with clients' families, as well as clients, are important indicators for emotional exhaustion and depersonalization of home care workers.     

Depressive symptoms in mothers of pre-school children Effects of deprivation, social support, stress and neighbourhood social capital

Depressive symptoms in mothers of pre-school children Effects of deprivation, social support, stress and neighbourhood social capital . Mulvaney C & Kendrick D. . ( 2005 ) Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology , 40 , 202 – 208 .     

Monitoring systems for the support of home care

In this article, the design of a system for the ambient, unobtrusive and automatic monitoring of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) is described. In the context of the growing imbalance between (potentially young) caregivers and (most often older) people receiving care, technical monitoring systems may help to organise care more efficiently and to identify degrading abilities very early to trigger preventive measures. To improve the acceptance of the system described in this article, the selection process of the sensors to be integrated into the flat or to be worn by the older people has been steered by the results of focus group interviews with older people, their relatives and professional caregivers. The interviews revealed that these people would in general accept such systems, but security, mobility and communication aspects have to be clearly and appropriately addressed. In an experimental study the recognition rate of the activity 'preparation and intake of food or beverages' has been measured with two age groups (6 subjects, age between 25 and 40/mean 30 years and 5 subjects, age between 72 and 84/mean 75.3 years). The food preparation was detected with a sensitivity of 74.7% and a specificity of 84.2% using a vision sensor.     

An investigation of social support networks for working mothers

The purpose of our study was to investigate the social support network for working mothers, including physical, emotional and informational sources, and to discuss strategies to reduce stress caused by their multiple role strain. We asked 18 participants to fill in a questionnaire and conducted semi-constructed interviews. The results of this study showed that more than half of the working mothers want to continue their career because of self growth and the rewards from their job. Many mothers responded that a sympathetic understanding by their husbands, families and people at workplaces is essential to create a balance between their career and housework. As a result, their husbands mainly provide physical support in housekeeping and child caring, whereas their mothers provide physical and emotional support from knowledge based upon their own experience. Almost all working mothers complained of a shortage of nurseries and child caring facilities as well as limited availability of flexible services. In conclusion, the results of our study suggested that the identity of the traditional gender role needs to be changed to a contemporary one, like a husband fully participating in his child's rearing activities by reconsidering his working hours. Moreover, community services to support working mothers should be increased.     

The effect of mothers' social support and life changes on the stimulation of their children in the home.

The relationship between mothers' life changes, social support, and the preschool home environment of their children was analyzed three years after all study children were discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit. The number of reported life changes occurring to mothers since the births of the children in the group was not related to the amount of home stimulation mothers provided their children; however, mothers reporting more social support provided a more stimulating home environment unrelated to the number of life changes.     

Evaluation of a social support program for young unwed mothers

This research evaluated the effects of a social support program on young unwed mothers. Measures of social support, stress, affect, and life events were compiled by 15 program participants and 15 matched controls before and after the program six months later. The results showed significant increases in the size of the family and friend network for program participants relative to controls. Also, program participants reported more involvement in work and school and maintained a high level of positive affect significantly more than controls. The two groups did not differ in reported levels of stress. The implications of the findings for future research and program development were discussed.Christina E. Henninger is the Department of Applied Psychology, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Geoffrey Nelson is in the Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University.We would like to acknowledge several people who collaborated with us on this program: Phyllis Goodwins, Joan Meunier, Mary Harrison, and Mary-Jane Crusoe. We would also like to thank Gilles Charbonneau for his assistance with data analysis.     

Effects of social support on the mental health of mothers with infants

OBJECTIVE: We surmised that increase in stress in mothers having infants might be due to decline of social support under circumstances where nuclear family households now predominate. The present study was therefore conducted to analyze relations between stress reactions of mothers having infants, their recognition of social support, and negative feelings toward their baby and child care, a major factor in the burden of childcare. METHODS: The subject were 909 mothers having infants in nuclear families who lived in I city in Osaka Prefecture. Health examinations of infants at the ages of 4 months, 1 year and 6 months, and 3 years and 6 months were utilized. Questionnaires titled "Survey on Childcare" were distributed in advance by mail to parents of the infants included in the health examinations and collected at the health examinations. The survey period was August to September 2000. Personal background variables and, psychological investigation items, including mental health in terms of stress reactions, negative feelings toward childcare as a factor in the burden of childcare, and a support network scale were surveyed and analyzed. RESULTS: The mothers with infants were judged to be in a stressful state from the average mental health scores in all groups. Multiparas had significantly higher negative feelings toward childcare scores. Regarding the age groups of children, a significantly decreasing recognition of a support network as well as significantly increasing negative feelings toward childcare were observed with the growth of children. There was a positive correlation between negative feelings toward childcare and stress reactions. The recognition of social support was negatively correlated with stress reactions and negative feelings toward childcare. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that mothers having infants are in a stressful state and that the recognition of stress is related to negative feelings toward childcare and the recognition of a support network. The feeling of sufficient support lowers the level of stress arising from childcare, and facilitates avoiding or coping with problems, thereby promoting mothers' physical and mental health. This is important for continuation and fulfillment of childcare.     

Developing coping styles and social support networks: an intervention outcome study with mothers of handicapped children

This paper describes an intervention programme, evaluation procedures, and results from a study of skills training for reducing stress with parents of handicapped children. Four mothers of developmentally disabled children participated in an 8-week training programme designed to teach parents ways to enhance their coping skills, increase their social support networks, and collectively make changes in their environment. Post-test data indicate that the programme shows promise for teaching coping and social support enhancement skills to parents.     

家庭关怀及社会支持对社区老年人社会隔离的影响

目的了解社区老年人社会隔离的现状,明确家庭关怀及社会支持因素对其产生的影响,为采取应对措施提供理论依据。方法于2017年12月-2018年8月采用社会网络量表(LSNS-6)、家庭关怀度问卷(APGAR)、社会支持评定量表(SSRS)对唐山市6所社区1 526例老年人(≥60岁)进行问卷评测。结果社区老年人社会网络总均分为(16.16±5.447)分,其中发生社会隔离者占24.3%;多因素分析结果显示,患有慢病(OR=2.477,95%CI:1.948～3.057)、居住在3层楼房以上(OR=2.475,95%CI:1.747～3.505)是社会隔离的危险因素,家庭关怀度高(OR=0.644,95%CI:0.588～0.706)、社会支持度高(OR=0.806,95%CI:0.779～0.833)是社会隔离的保护因素;分层回归分析显示家庭关怀及社会支持能够独立解释30.1%的社会隔离。结论唐山市社区老年人社会隔离发生率远高于北京市水平,加强家庭及社会支持可降低社会隔离的发生。