Social support as a factor of parenting stress for mothers of young and preschool children

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the characteristics of parenting stress of mothers of young and preschool children and their relation with the relationship with the spouse and social support. The study involved 91 mothers of young and preschool children. Methods include Parenting Stress Index by Richard R. Abidin, Marriage Satisfaction Questionnaire by Yuliya Alyoshina, Social support questionnaire (F-SOZU-22), Social support questionnaire (ISEL), socio-biographical questionnaire. The study found above average level of parenting stress, average level of social support and marriage satisfaction. A close relationship was found between the characteristics of parenting stress and the characteristics of relationships with a partner (with the emotional climate in the family, marriage satisfaction, help in raising a child, time spent by a spouse with a child). Relationship with a partner is most closely associated with indicators of health and depression. Parenting stress is also closely related to the level of general social support. The most significant predictor of the level of parenting stress in mothers is among the characteristics of social support, satisfaction with social support. The strongest links between spouse relationship and social support are found with parenting stress in parent domain.