Ensamstående föräldrars sociala tillvaro - En kvantitativ studie om ensamstående föräldrars nätverk och sociala stöd

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent and structure in single parents' social networks, and the social support they receive from them. The goal has been to highlight the different types of needs that lone parents have and to investigate whether the extent and/or type of need, and satisfaction of needs, differ within the group of single parents. In order to answer the purpose, the study has been carried out through a quantitative research approach in which a questionnaire was distributed online. 108 single mothers and fathers chose to participate in the study. The result shows that the majority of respondents' network has both strengths and weaknesses where weaknesses unfortunately are more numerous. It can be concluded that the vast majority of the respondents have a network that serves as both practical and emotional support. However, a large proportion of the parents have small networks in which one or more categories of groups are empty of people. A clear majority have few people they believe are an important and central part of their lives. Furthermore, most has a network that lacks density, which in accordance with the network theory is a shortage because the individual is in need of people in their network who talk together.