THE PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT

Running head: PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT 1
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND
DEPRESSION AMONG MALDIVIAN SINGLE AND MARRIED MOTHERS
Student’s Name:
Instructor’s Name:
Name of University:
Course Number:
Date of Submission:
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CONTENTS
ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................. 3
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 4
Research Question.................................................................................................................... 6
Hypothesis................................................................................................................................ 6
OBJECTIVES AND AIMS............................................................................................................6
Specific Aims............................................................................................................................ 6
Overall Objective...................................................................................................................... 7
BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE........................................................................................8
LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................. 11
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS.....................................................................................13
Design..................................................................................................................................... 13
Participants............................................................................................................................ 13
Measures................................................................................................................................ 13
Procedure............................................................................................................................... 15
Data Analysis.......................................................................................................................... 15
Ethics and Human Subjects Issues...........................................................................................15
RESULTS.................................................................................................................................. 17
Descriptive Statistics............................................................................................................... 17
Prevalence of Depression among Single and Married Mothers.................................................18
Inferential Statistics................................................................................................................ 19
DISCUSSION............................................................................................................................ 21
FURTHER RECOMMENDATION..............................................................................................24
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................... 25
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE STUDY...............................................................25
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SIGNIFICANCE......................................................................................................................... 27
REFERENCE............................................................................................................................ 28
APPENDIX................................................................................................................................ 33
Appendix 1: Participants Information Sheet............................................................................33
Appendix 2: Consent Form........................................................................................................33
Appendix 3: Demographic Questionnaire................................................................................33
Appendix 4: Perceived Social Support Scale – MSPSS.............................................................33
Appendix 5: Depression Scale – PHQ-9....................................................................................33
Appendix 6: Debreifing Information sheet...............................................................................33
Appendix 7: Authors Permission to use Scale MSPSS..............................................................33
Appendix 8: Authors Permission to use Scale PHQ-9...............................................................33
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ABSTRACT
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INTRODUCTION
Single mother headed families is one of the structural changes in modern society, which
is growing rapidly. The country of Maldives has the highest divorce rate in worldwide, which is
per year 10.97 divorces for every 1,000 inhabitants (Guinness World Records 2002). According
to the Department of Judicial Administration, 6509 couples got married in 2019, and 5117
couples were divorced in the same year (Department of Judicial Administration 2020). After the
divorce, normally women take custody of their children or take the responsibilities to raise their
children. In the Maldives, the latest census statistics revealed that over 20 per cent of the children
lives with their mother only (National Bureau of Statistics 2014). This could be due to divorce,
separation, having children without marriage, and fathers living or working in different Islands.
According to Crosier, Butterworth, and Rodgers (2007) suggested that parental well-being was
negatively influenced by a transition to single parenthood, dissolution, and family instability.
Likewise, international literature reveals that single motherhood is linked with a greater level of
chronic stress, because of the economic hardship and decreased the level of social support from
families, friends and others (Targosz et al. 2003; Tobias et al. 2009; Rousou, Kouta and
Middleton 2016). Thus, this eventually causes psychological and physical illness amongst single
mothers (Targosz et al. 2003; Tobias et al. 2009; Rousou, Kouta, and Middleton 2016).
Depression is defined as a common mental disorder, presented by losing interest about
events that you once enjoyed, reduced energy, failure to carry out daily tasks, and having
persistent sadness for at least two weeks (WHO 2012). A survey done in the Maldives found that
five per cent of the population is suffering from depression and anxiety (Niyaz and Naz 2003).
Also, the results found women experience depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms twice
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higher than men (Niyaz and Naz 2003). Similarly, prevalence study conducted by Maldivian
National University students found that female students have a higher prevalence of depression,
anxiety, and stress (Shanoora and Nawaza 2018).
Social support is known as the process of taking care of social relationships. According to
Tardy (1985) suggested that social support is a broad, multidimensional concept which includes
emotion support and instrumental support. Emotional support consists of the support received
from intimate, confiding relationships which include love, and empathy (Tardy 1985).
Instrumental support was more pragmatic and practical or helping behavior: which includes
providing financial support and giving once a time (Tardy 1985). However, Zimet et al. (1988)
defined social support as emotional support from family, friend, and significant others. A recent
meta-analysis done by Gariépy, Honkaniemi, and Quesnel-Vallée (2016) claimed that emotional,
social support was more closely related to depression compared to instrumental social support.
However, Werner-Seidler et al. (2017) stated that some studies merge these social support
aspects, and the ability to differentiate between social support roles in depression were
precluded. This paper will focus on how emotional, social support from families, friends, and
significant others affect depression among Maldivian mothers and identify whether there is any
difference in perceived social support and depression between Maldivian single and married
mothers.
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PROBLEM STATEMENT
Research Question
i. Is there a relationship between perceived social support and depression among Maldivian
mothers?
ii. Does the difference exist in perceived social support and depression between Maldivian
single married mothers?
Hypothesis
H :₀ There is no statistically significant relationship between perceived social support and
depression among Maldivian mothers
H :₁ There is a statistically significant relationship between perceived social support and
depression among Maldivian mothers
H :₀ There is no statistically significant difference in perceived social support between
Maldivian single and married mothers
H :₂ There is a statistically significant difference in perceived social support between
Maldivian single and married mothers
H :₀ There is no statistically significant difference in the level of depression between
Maldivian single and married mothers
H :₃ There is a statistically significant difference in the level of depression between Maldivian
single and married mothers
OBJECTIVES AND AIMS
Specific Aims
i. To investigate the relationship between perceived social support and depression among
Maldivian Mothers
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ii. Identify the difference in perceived social support and depression between Maldivian
single and married mothers
iii. Identify the difference in the level of depression between Maldivian single and married
mothers
Overall Objective
i. Identify the prevalence rate of depression among Maldivian single and married mothers
ii. Identifying the difference in perceived social support based on three dimensions: Friends,
Family and significant others
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