Level of parenting stress in mothers of singletons and mothers of twins until one year postpartum: A cross-sectional study

Problem

To date, it is unclear which factors are associated with parenting stress.

Social support and life satisfaction among gay men in Spain

Since the early 1960s, social support has been a topic of interest and study among social psychologists and other professionals investigating social issues. In spite of this growing interest by the scientific community, there are few studies on social support in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, and even fewer on the impact of social support on life satisfaction. In this regard, in Spain, there are very few psychosocial studies on homosexual groups. In the present study, the authors analyze social support data and life satisfaction in a sample of 220 gay residents of Málaga and Sevilla. The results show that friends are the most important source of overall social support, and that, in the family, sisters provide the most support and contribute to increased life satisfaction. On the other hand, social support had an effect on the level of life satisfaction, although the results indicate that factors associated with homosexual identity are the best predictors of life satisfaction. The implications of these results are discussed as well as potential future research.     

The association between social support and postpartum depression in women: A cross sectional study

Background

Prevalence of postpartum depression is estimated to be about 10–15% worldwide. Many risk factors are supposed to play a role leading a new mother to maternal postpartum depression which can considerably affect the baby, mother, family and also the society.

贫困少数民族山区农村老年人社会支持网与生活满意度关系研究

本文利用笔者在贵州贫困少数民族山区的调查数据,分析了贫困少数民族山区农村老年人社会运行综合网的人数规模及其与生活满意度之间的关系,并初步探讨了不同社会角色提供的支持对老年人生活满意度的影响.     

A peer support intervention for first-time mothers: Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the mummy buddy program

BackgroundThe transition to motherhood, although joyous, can be highly stressful, and the availability of professional postpartum support for mothers is often limited. Peer volunteer support programs may offer a viable and cost-effective method to provide community-based support for new mothers.AimTo determine the feasibility of a peer volunteer support program—The Mummy Buddy Program—in which experienced volunteer mothers are paired with, and trained to offer social support to, first-time mothers.MethodsUsing a single-group non-randomised feasibility trial, a total of 56 experienced mothers participated in the Mummy Buddy training program, which was focused on education and practical exercises relating to the provision of various forms of social support. Experienced mothers (‘Mummy Buddies’) were subsequently paired with expectant first-time mothers (n = 47 pairs), and were encouraged to provide support until 24-weeks postpartum.FindingsIn terms of key feasibility considerations, 95.1% of Mummy Buddies felt that they were trained sufficiently to perform their role, and 85.8% of New Mothers were satisfied with the support provided by their Buddy. Analyses of preliminary efficacy (i.e., program outcomes) revealed that the first-time mothers maintained normal levels of stress and depressive symptomology, and possessed relatively strong maternal functioning, across the program duration.ConclusionThe Mummy Buddy Program appears to be a feasible and potentially valuable peer volunteer support program for first-time mothers. This study provides a foundation for program expansion and for work designed to examine program outcomes—for first-time mothers, Mummy Buddies, and entire family units—within a sufficiently-powered randomised controlled trial.     

Postpartum women’s experiences of social and healthcare professional support during the COVID-19 pandemic: A recurrent cross-sectional thematic analysis

ProblemDisrupted access to social and healthcare professional support during the COVID-19 pandemic have had an adverse effect on maternal mental health.BackgroundMotherhood is a key life transition which increases vulnerability to experience negative affect.AimExplore UK women’s postnatal experiences of social and healthcare professional support during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 women, approximately 30 days after initial social distancing guidelines were imposed (T1), and a separate 12 women were interviewed approximately 30 days after the initial easing of social distancing restrictions (T2). Recurrent cross-sectional thematic analysis was conducted in NVivo 12.FindingsT1 themes were, ‘Motherhood has been an isolating experience’ (exacerbated loneliness due to diminished support accessibility) and ‘Everything is under lock and key’ (confusion, alienation, and anxiety regarding disrupted face-to-face healthcare checks). T2 themes were, ‘Disrupted healthcare professional support’ (feeling burdensome, abandoned, and frustrated by virtual healthcare) and ‘Easing restrictions are bittersweet’ (conflict between enhanced emotional wellbeing, and sadness regarding lost postnatal time).DiscussionRespondents at both timepoints were adversely affected by restricted access to informal (family and friends) and formal (healthcare professional) support, which were not sufficiently bridged virtually. Additionally, the prospect of attending face-to-face appointments was anxiety-provoking and perceived as being contradictory to social distancing guidance. Prohibition of family from maternity wards was also salient and distressing for T2, but not T1 respondents.ConclusionHealthcare professionals should encourage maternal help-seeking and provide timely access to mental health services. Improving access to informal and formal face-to-face support are essential in protecting maternal and infant wellbeing.     

Global Cities,Public Transportation,and Social Exclusion: A Study of the Bus System in Abu Dhabi

As cities of the Gulf Cooperation Council grow and integrate with global markets, questions relating to their unique social compositions continue to emerge. Abu Dhabi has been competing with other cities in the region through massive investments in infrastructure and megaprojects, including the provision of public transportation. The paper examines the issues of bus ridership in Abu Dhabi and relates it to the broader debates on social exclusion and transportation. As a globalizing city with a majority expatriate population, and with a large presence of blue-collar workers, unique rifts in the society are further complicating the ‘usual’ prejudice against buses. The paper reports on results from fieldwork including surveys and observations. It concludes that the bus system could be more effective in fostering social inclusion if a broader accessibility planning approach is used.     

Exploring the COVID-19 pandemic experience of maternity clinicians in a high migrant population and low COVID-19 prevalence country: A qualitative study

BackgroundAustralia experienced a low prevalence of COVID-19 in 2020 compared to many other countries. However, maternity care has been impacted with hospital policy driven changes in practice. Little qualitative research has investigated maternity clinicians’ perception of the impact of COVID-19 in a high-migrant population.AimTo investigate maternity clinicians’ perceptions of patient experience, service delivery and personal experience in a high-migrant population.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 14 maternity care clinicians in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Interviews were conducted from November to December 2020. A reflexive thematic approach was used for data analysis.FindingsA key theme in the data was ‘COVID-19 related travel restrictions result in loss of valued family support for migrant families’. However, partners were often ‘stepping-up’ into the role of missing overseas relatives. The main theme in clinical care was a shift in healthcare delivery away from optimising patient care to a focus on preservation and safety of health staff.DiscussionClinicians were of the view migrant women were deeply affected by the loss of traditional support. However, the benefit may be the potential for greater gender equity and bonding opportunities for partners.Conflict with professional beneficence principles and values may result in bending rules when a disconnect exists between relaxed community health orders and restrictive hospital protocols during different phases of a pandemic.ConclusionThis research adds to the literature that migrant women require individualised culturally safe care because of the ongoing impact of loss of support during the COVID-19 pandemic.     

Social structure and the defensive role of soldiers in a eusocial bamboo aphid,Pseudoregma bambucicola (Homoptera: Aphididae): A test of the defence-optimization hypothesis

A complete understanding of the evolution of sociality in aphids requires a detailed knowledge of the patterns of soldier investment in their ecology. The eusocial bamboo aphidPseudoregma bambucicola has a morphologically specialized first-instar soldier caste. The proportion of soldiers was positively correlated with colony size. Within a colony, soldiers were evenly distributed among subcolonies; within each subcolony, however, their distribution was biased toward peripheries which were exposed to many predators. Field experiments introducing natural enemies such asEupeodes confrater (Diptera: Syrphidae) andSynonycha grandis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) revealed that the survival rate of these predators was negatively correlated with the density of soldiers, suggesting that soldiers can more or less defend their colonies by killing or removing a range of natural enemies. Observations suggest that large mature colonies attract more predators than newly established small colonies and that, within a colony, the predators attack each subcolony regardless of its position on bamboo shoots. This implies the presence of a positive correlation between colony size and predation risk. Thus, the investment in soldiers seems to reflect the attacking pattern of predators within a colony. These results agree with the defence-optimization hypothesis in soldier investment ofP. bambucicola colonies.