Perceived Social Support and Affecting Factors in Women Living in Edirne


ŞAHİN E. M., Altinel T.

TURKIYE KLINIKLERI TIP BILIMLERI DERGISI, cilt.30, sa.3, ss.864-870, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 30 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2010
  • Doi Numarası: 10.5336/medsci.2008-9772
  • Dergi Adı: TURKIYE KLINIKLERI TIP BILIMLERI DERGISI
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.864-870
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objective: Current status and the changes in social support, defined as the emotional, physical and financial support gained through social relations, attracts attention in women due to the changing social roles and living conditions. The aim of this study is to determine the affect of socio-demographic and family characteristics on perceived social support in women living in Edirne, Turkey. Material and Methods: In this cross sectional descriptive study, a questionnaire including items on socio-demographic characteristics, family life and life events as well as Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were applied in face to face interviews to 547 women selected by cluster sampling method to represent 15-49 years old women living in Edirne, Turkey. Results: Foty point two percent of the women did not participate in family decisions, 33.1% experienced at least one important life event in childhood, 38% had a history of physical abuse in their childhood, and 11.9% confronted partner abuse. Rate of the current smokers was 33.6% and alcohol users was 31.6%. Mean MSPSS score was 60.3 and higher in singles and the ones who married with mutual agreement. The factors increasing MSPSS score were educational level of partners, child number, loss of mother, and perception of sexual life, the factors decreasing MSPSS score were age, number of people living at home, having a history of important life event in childhood and being confronted partner abuse. Conclusion: Women living in Edirne had intermediate levels of social support that is affected by social status and life events. Their social support systems get powerful as their socio-economic and cultural levels and social status increase. Variables that may be related to traditional way of living, such as being a housewife, living in large families with high number of children, not participating to family decisions, marrying according to parental decisions, and marriage types do not enhance perceived social support.