Social Support and Life Stress as Related to the Psychological Distress of Single Enlisted Navy Mothers

Abstract

This study examines relationships between social support and life events stress among 50 single active duty enlisted United States Navy mothers. Participants completed an online survey to assess social support (Inventory of Parent Experiences; Crnic & Greenburg, 1990), life events stressors (Life Events Questionnaire; Norbeck, 1984), depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression Scale; Radloff, 1977), anxiety (Kremen Anxiety Scale; Kremen, 1990), and maternal guilt (Parental Guilt Questionnaire; Tucker & Kelley, 2006). Higher levels of support from friends and fewer negative life events stressors predicted fewer depressive symptoms. Higher social support in the workplace and fewer negative life events stressors predicted both fewer symptoms of anxiety and lower levels of maternal guilt. Results suggest that friend and workplace support and negative life events may have important implications for the psychological health of single enlisted active duty Navy mothers.