PERCEIVED PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS, PERCEIVED ADEQUACY OF SOCIAL SUPPORTS, AND PERCEIVED SOCIAL NETWORKS OF FIRST TIME MOTHERS 20-25 AND 30-35 YEARS OF AGE.
Contributors: Wayne State University.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 148
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Developmental.; Psychology, Social.
Description: The purpose of this study was to compare the perceived psychological stress, perceived social supports and social network systems of forty first time mothers 30-35 years of age to forty first time mothers 20-25 years of age at eight weeks postpartum. The theoretical framework of Dimond and Jones (1983) was used as a basis for the conceptualization of the study. Perceived psychological stress was measured using Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Perceived social supports were measured using Personal Resources Questionnaire (PRQ85). Social networks were measured using the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ). Statistical analysis used were t-test for paired groups, multiple regression, ANOVA, and path analysis.

The major findings of this study involved the relationship between stress an perceived supports: (1) Perceived adequacy of support explained more variance than any other variable in the perception of stress and (2) The path model indicated that maternal age affected stress primarily by leading to increased network support which increased perceived support which in turn led to decreased perceived stress. The second most important finding was the unexpected discovery that for this study, the older mothers appeared to have less stress and more perceived support than younger mothers. Even though the relationship of maternal age to perceived stress fell short of statistical significance in this study, given the limited power of sample size, it is possible that with a larger sample this effect would be significant.

The older mothers reported more sources of stress and higher numbers of stressful events associated with parenthood than younger mothers during the interview but less overall stress. They received more situational support, affirmation support, and affect support than younger mothers. They also reported differences in network make up. They had more frequent contact, had more support for a longer period of time, and had more support from mothers like themselves than the younger mothers. Older mothers also reported less kin support than younger mothers.

The findings supported the theoretical model as being of value to the study of women in the immediate months postpartum and contributes to nursing knowledge in paradigm conceptual areas of person and environmental interactions as variables to predict one aspect of health, the perception of stress.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-03, Section: B, page: 0820.

Thesis (PH.D.)--WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, 1993.

School code: 0254.