Social support networks for parenting and psychological well-being among dual-earner Mexican-American families

The conceptual framework of Caplan (1974) was used to investigate social support networks and psychological well-being in a sample of 142 parents in dual-earner Mexican-American families with children 12 years old or younger. Respondents completed a questionnaire that assessed network support, size, density, and effectiveness, and spouse support. Life satisfaction, positive affect toward family and work, and role conflict also were assessed. As predicted, spouse support and network effectiveness were associated positively with life satisfaction for both parents, and for mothers they were associated positively with positive affect toward family and work and associated negatively with role conflict. The differential meaning of social support systems for the well-being of male and female parents in Mexican-American dual-earner families is discussed.