Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

The effect of social support on the well-being of single-mothers enrolled in a rural community college

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/8s45qf02t

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  • The primary purpose of this research was to examine the effects of informal social support on the psychological sense of well-being of single-parent mothers who are enrolled in a rural Oregon community college. A secondary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of selected demographic indices upon the mothers' well-being. A 32-item questionnaire was mailed to a randomly selected population of 1,000 female spring term enrollees at Linn-Benton Community College, resulting in an 82 percent rate of response and 781 usable surveys, including 76 (10 percent) from single-mother students. Characteristically 35 to 39 years of age, Caucasian, and maintaining her own household on a gross monthly income of $1,000 or less, the single-mother student worked part-time, had been a single-parent for more than two years, raised one child, and was enrolled for six or fewer credits during the spring term. Analyses of variance among demographic indices and well-being measures indicated that single-mother students employed part-time scored lowest on Total Well-Being, Problems and Isolation. There was a significant effect on Problems from those enrolled in a degree program for seven or more credits and receiving financial aid. Simple linear and multiple stepwise regressions between components of Support and Well-Being, showed that: (1) Total Support had an effect upon Problems, Loneliness, Happiness, and Total Well-Being; (2) Personal Conversations influenced or affected all measures of Well-Being; (3) Relatives influenced Isolation, Loneliness, Happiness, and Total Well-Being; (4) Friendship affected Problems, Loneliness, Happiness, and Total Well-Being; and (5) Neighbors influenced Total Well-Being. Stepwise multiple regressions indicated that (1) Total Well-Being was affected by Conversations and to a lesser extent by Relatives and Friends; (2) Problems and Loneliness were influenced by Friends; (3) Isolation was affected by Relatives, and (4) Happiness was influenced by Conversations and to a lesser degree by Relatives. Recommendations for further research and implications for educational and family professionals working with single-mother students are discussed.
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