RELATIONSHIPS AMONG DAILY STRESSORS, SOCIAL SUPPORT AND HEALTH OF SINGLE PARENTS IN TAIWAN

Previous studies show that single-parent families are generally more vulnerable and socially disadvantaged than two-parent families. Single parents often have a small social network size and lower level of receiving network support. Low social network support may be a risk factor for health problems. No study has directly assessed the relationships among daily stressors, social support and health from the nursing perspective in single parents in Taiwan. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among these variables. The secondary purpose of this study was to examine whether social support moderates the relationship between daily stressors and health, or whether social support mediates the relationship between daily stressors and health for single parents in Taiwan. The conceptual framework for this study was guided by Heaney and Israel (2008), and Pearlin et al. (1981). Using a descriptive and correlational study design, a convenience sample of 125 single parents was recruited from nine Single-Parent Family Centers in Taiwan. A pilot study tested the reliability of the Everyday Stressors Index, MOS Social Support Survey, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and General Health Subscale of the Rand 36-item Health survey 1.0 in Taiwanese single-parents. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses. Findings showed that the relationships among daily stressors, social support and health outcomes were significant in the expected directions. Social support had a partial mediating effect in the relationship between daily stressors and health outcomes, and the highest level of social support had a moderating effect in the relationship between daily stressors and general health perception. There was a significant difference in perceived social support by gender, in daily stressors by employed status and monthly income, and in depressive symptoms by monthly income. Additionally, the findings showed that network size changes after marital disruption were associated with daily stressors, social support, depressive symptoms, and general health perceptions. Compared to previous studies, the findings suggested that viewpoints toward social support after marital disruption may be changing in Taiwanese culture. Single mothers may no longer be ostracized with less social support compared to single fathers, and divorced single parents of either gender experience similar levels of social support as widowed single parents. The participants were recruited only in Single-Parent Family Centers which may decrease generalizability to all single parents in Taiwan. The findings have implications for theory, clinical practice, nursing research, and health policy. Future research should focus on longitudinal study of social relationships and social network size changes during single parenthood and the association with stress and health outcomes over time. Prior to establishing health prevention interventions and an affirmative feedback network system for single parents in Taiwan, a culturally sensitive social support instrument is needed to determine their social needs over time.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Grantor dc:publisher

Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Lee, Chia-Wen

Contributors dc:contributor

• Damato, Elizabeth

• Nursing
• daily stressors
• social network
• social support
• depressive symptoms
• general health perceptions
• single parents

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1363111285

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:case1363111285