Socio-demographic characteristics associated with perceived social support among parents of children aged 0-7 years: the CIKEO study

Irene N Fierloos; Dafna A Windhorst; Yuan Fang; Harrie Jonkman; Matty R Crone; Clemens M H Hosman; Siok Swan Tan; Hein Raat

doi:10.1186/s12889-022-14830-1

Socio-demographic characteristics associated with perceived social support among parents of children aged 0-7 years: the CIKEO study

BMC Public Health. 2022 Dec 27;22(1):2441. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14830-1.

Authors

Irene N Fierloos¹, Dafna A Windhorst^{1

2

3}, Yuan Fang¹, Harrie Jonkman⁴, Matty R Crone⁵, Clemens M H Hosman^{6

7

8}, Siok Swan Tan¹, Hein Raat⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015, GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
² Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
³ TNO Child Health, Sylviusweg 71, 2333 BE, Leiden, the Netherlands.
⁴ Verwey-Jonker Institute, Kromme Nieuwegracht 6, 3512 HG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
⁶ Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University, Peter Debyeplein 1, 6229 HA, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
⁷ Department of Clinical Psychology, Radboud University, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
⁸ Hosman Prevention and Innovation Consultancy, Knapheidepad 6, 6562 DW, Berg en Dal, The Netherlands.
⁹ Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015, GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. h.raat@erasmusmc.nl.

Abstract

Background: Social support has been associated with numerous positive outcomes for families' health, wellbeing and empowerment. This study examined which socio-demographic characteristics are associated with perceived social support among parents of children aged 0-7 years.

Method: Cross-sectional data of 1007 parents of children aged 0-7 years, gathered in the CIKEO cohort study in the Netherlands, were analysed. Social support was assessed with the Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Linear regression models were used to examine associations between socio-demographic characteristics and perceived social support.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 34.1 years (SD = 5.1); 92.9% were mothers. The multivariable regression model showed that fathers (β: -0.15, 95% CI: - 0.22, - 0.08), parents with a low educational level (β: -0.12, 95% CI: 0.18, - 0.06), parents with a low income (β: -0.10, 95% CI: - 0.19, - 0.01), unemployed parents (β: -0.14, 95% CI: - 0.20, - 0.07), and parents of older children (β: -0.07; 95% CI: - 0.13, 0.00) perceived lower levels of social support. Interaction analyses showed that parents with a migration background and a low educational level were particularly susceptible to perceiving lower levels of support (β: -0.34, 95% CI: - 0.52, - 0.15).

Conclusion: Fathers, parents with a low educational level, parents with a low income, unemployed parents, parents of older children, and parents with both a migration background and a low educational level are at increased risk of perceiving lower levels of social support.

Implications: We recommend to develop, implement and evaluate intervention strategies to strengthen perceived social support among the abovementioned subgroups of parents, in order to improve families' health, wellbeing and empowerment.

Trial registration: NTR7607 in the Netherlands trial registry.

Keywords: Empowerment; Parenting; Population characteristics; Social support; Socioeconomic differences.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Child
Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Demography
Female
Humans
Parenting
Parents*
Social Support*

Associated data

NTR/NTR7607