Global and parenting-specific social support as protective factors for the well-being of Mexican American mothers of toddlers

Abstract

This study applies an ecodevelopmental stress process model to consider the extent to which social support buffers mothers from experiencing depressive symptoms and parenting stress among a community sample of 81 Mexican American mothers of toddlers. Specifically, we examine how mother-reported perceived global and parenting-specific social support interact with economic strain and child negative affectivity in the prediction of maternal depressive symptoms and parenting stress. We also examine the extent to which both forms of social support interact with mothers’ familism support beliefs. Findings indicate that parenting-specific social support interrupts the positive associations between economic strain and negative child affect and maternal depressive symptoms, above and beyond the influence of global social support. Moreover, the combination of high familism beliefs and global social support reduces risks for maternal depressive symptoms.