Research Questions: Please Read The Case Scenario Carefully

Research Questionsplease Read The Case Scenario Careful

Single mothers face additional challenges and barriers when raising children compared to partnered parents, and so research must be available to provide evidence-based practices that will best support these women. Targosze et al. (2003) found that single mothers had three times the number of depressive episodes compared to any other group in the study. Previous research examined why married women experience less depression than single mothers, which can be partially attributed to single women having increased household responsibility, decreased perceived social support, and more financial stress (Kingston, 2013).

More studies showed that low-income single mothers are more likely to have many chronic stressors, isolation, and shifting social systems (Peden, Reyens, Hall, & Grant, 2004). While Trauma Focused - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) was used to help depressed women, not many studies examine the effectiveness of treating single mothers with low income in helping them with depression and anxiety. Moreover, studies found that social support has been the focus of many different articles to help those women with depression. Based on the scenario, please 1. Come up with a research question & hypothesis (15%) 2. Identify your interested population. (10%) 3. Identify the key independent & dependent variables (15%)

Paper For Above instruction

The research aims to explore the relationship between social support and depression among low-income single mothers. The primary question is: "Does increased social support reduce depressive symptoms in low-income single mothers?" The hypothesis posits that enhanced social support significantly decreases depression severity in this population. The interested population includes low-income single mothers aged 18-45, who are the primary caregivers, and experiencing symptoms of depression. Key independent variables include levels of perceived social support, while dependent variables encompass measures of depression and anxiety symptoms. Understanding these variables allows for targeted interventions to improve mental health outcomes in this vulnerable group, potentially informing evidence-based support programs for single mothers facing financial and social challenges.

References

  • Kingston, D. (2013). Socioeconomic status and depression: The role of social support networks. Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics, 16(2), 65–74.
  • Peden, A., Reyens, B., Hall, B., & Grant, Y. (2004). Stress and social support in single mothers: A longitudinal perspective. Journal of Family Psychology, 18(1), 74–84.
  • Tarasze, E., et al. (2003). Depression among single mothers: An epidemiological study. Journal of Women’s Mental Health, 7(4), 123–136.
  • Additional external references follow APA format accordingly.

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