11.07.2015 Views

2011 The Palm Beach County Family Study (Full Report)

2011 The Palm Beach County Family Study (Full Report)

2011 The Palm Beach County Family Study (Full Report)

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

SummaryMothers in the fifth year continued to voice high satisfaction with the level of informal support theyreceive. Consistent with previous years, if the mothers had husbands/partners, they most often receivedsupport from them, although the mean level of support from husbands and partners was higher in year 5than in year 4. Otherwise, the mothers relied primarily on their family, especially siblings and mothers orstepmothers. In addition to family members, the mothers depended on friends for support. <strong>The</strong> meansupport score based on the mothers’ reports of help received from family and friends in the fifth year wassignificantly higher in the fifth year compared to the fourth year; on average, the fifth-year score washigher than it was in the first year. In addition, we also saw a decline in the frequency with which somekinds of support were provided by husbands/partners, other family members, and friends.In year 5, more (18%) mothers reported that they never received any advice on children or householdproblems as compared to the previous 3 years of the study (6% in year 2, 4% in year 3, and 6% in year 4).With regard to money, food, or clothing, far fewer mothers (50%) in year 5 reported that they neverreceived any assistance in this area as compared to the first 4 years of the study (74% in year 1, 67% inyear 2, 72% in year 3, and 75% in year 4). <strong>The</strong> mothers’ perceptions of their access to social support,regardless of source, fluctuated over time, and we are not able to discern any significant patterns.As described in Spielberger et al. (2009), the qualitative data suggest a variety of reasons for trends (andlack thereof) over time. Sometimes relatives are no longer able to help with childcare or turn out to beunreliable caregivers, so mothers have to find other sources of help. Over time, if they can afford it,mothers living with relatives or friends increasingly try to set up households of their own—although theymay continue to share resources, such as childcare and Food Stamps. As their children grow, somemothers convey an increasing desire to be independent. <strong>The</strong>y also express more confidence in theirparenting abilities, and, although respondents’ mothers remain an important source of information andsupport, sample mothers appear to be turning more to doctors, teachers, and other nonfamily forinformation and support than they did when their children were younger.Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago 84

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!