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Life problems, social supports, and psychological functioning of emotionally disturbed and well low‐income women
Author(s) -
Goodman Sherryl H.,
Johnson Marjorie Shaw
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6629(198604)14:2<150::aid-jcop2290140206>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - psychology , vulnerability (computing) , social functioning , population , affect (linguistics) , social support , developmental psychology , psychological well being , clinical psychology , social psychology , distress , demography , computer security , communication , sociology , computer science
The relationship between stressful life events, social supports, and psychological functioning was examined in a low‐income population of schizophrenic, depressed, and well mothers of young children. It was expected that the disturbed populations and those rated lowest on psychological functioning would have the most problems and the fewest resources. A buffering effect was hypothesized such that for the individuals with many problems, those with many resources would show better functioning than those with few resources. The results indicated that neither number of problems nor number of resources was related significantly to levels of psychological functioning. For disturbed women, having fewer problems may be associated with higher functioning. Both schizophrenic and depressed women reported more problems, but also more resources, than well women. Finally, having many resources did not affect the level of functioning of those with many stressful life events. Results were interpreted as failing to support the buffering hypothesis. Alternative explanations are proposed in terms of factors predisposing to vulnerability (e.g., low self‐esteem) and alternative conceptualizations of social support.