CORRELATIONS BETWEEN COUPLE RELATIONS, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF PARENTS

Back to Page Authors: Vered Shenaar-Golan, Hadas Doron

Keywords: parenthood, subjective well-being, social support, couplehood, Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love

Abstract: This study examines the influence of parenthood on subjective well-being (SWB). The findings from recent studies are complex and contradictory, indicating that parenthood has both negative and positive effects on parental SWB. For a deeper understanding, this study examined two potential mediating factors – spousal relationships and perceived social support. Participants were 611 parents, 489 women (80%) and 122 men (20%), between the ages of 20 and 69. Most were married or living with a partner. Participants were asked to complete three questionnaires, the Personal Well-being Index, Sternberg's Triangular Love Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the extent to which the different variables were related to the probability of being classified in the normative range of SWB. Findings show that two-thirds of the participants were classified in the normative range of SWB and one-third below normal. Significant and meaningful differences for all subscales of couplehood and social support and for years of education and socioeconomic status were found between the two groups. The findings suggest that spousal relationship, support of friends and family, education, and economic status are meaningful resources that enable parents to cope with the demands and challenges of parenthood.