How Does Family Social Capital Moderate Maternal Depression Among Different Family Structures?

• In Event: Family Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 7: Families and Health

Abstract

In the United States, single-parent families are becoming more prevalent. One major concern for this shift in family structure prevalence is that single-parent families have less resources compared to a two-parent family, thus both single parents and their children are at risk for worse outcomes. Single-parent families struggle more often to provide for their families while facing negative stereotypes compared to partnered parent families. In this difficult situation, single parents must rely on the relationships they have to access social support in the form of social capital. However, obligations to reciprocate social support and certain societal norms can place single parent families at a disadvantage, further exacerbating their limited social support. As a result, single mothers are more likely to be diagnosed to with depression compared to partnered-mothers. Generally, more social capital or higher quality social capital from a variety of sources is associated with lower odds of depression.

Authors

• Scott Sais, Brigham Young University-Provo

• Kaila Mae Nevarez, Brigham Young University-Provo

• Connor Peterson