Social support networks of migrant Puerto Rican women
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Abstract
This study explored the meaning of social support networks
among a self-selected sample (N=31) of migrant Puerto Rican women.
Following a combined quantitative and qualitative research design,
four areas were investigated:
1. How did the women define their social support networks?
2. How and to what extent were relationships maintained
with the support networks left behind in Puerto Rico, (PRSSN)?
3. How were new networks established in Boston, (BSSN)?
4. What impact separation from PRSSN had on stress?
Related areas of inquiry were stressed and specific demographic
factors were considered. These included, age range of 20 to 40
years; living in Boston for three years or less, and the presence
of children. Data was collected, with a demographic instrument
designed for this research, based on Hollingshead Four Factor In-
dex of Social Status (1975). Instruments to gather data included:
Pearson's Personal Support System Survey (P3S, 1979), State-Trait
Anxiety Inventory, Spanish translation (1975), and an open-ended
questionnaire developed by this researcher to elicit descriptive
information about the participants relationship with their PRSSN
and BSSN. The definition of social support network was conceptualized
by the migrant Puerto Rican women as people that provide
help and encouragement, characterized by reliable relationships
based on trust, and reciprocity. Distinctions between emotional
and functional support were less clear due to overlap between reported
forms of support.
The self-selected sample yielded unexpected data uncharacteristic
of those reported in the literature. These women had a high
level of education, 46.4% had college or graduate degree, and 39%
had high school diploma or some years of college. These women
were young, 55% were 20 to 29 years old and their family size was small, 65% had 2 or less children. Clinically this group appears to be self-confident, assertive, initiators of change for themselves
and their families, and capable of admitting their needs
and looking for help through appropriate sources of support.
The pursuit of help in no way should be interpreted as a weakness
or inability to cope. On the contrary, this group showed unexpected
inner resources and self confidence. These findings inform
the literature on women's development, corroborating research
by Gilligan (1977, 1982) and Miller (1976) about women's connectedness, and its relationship to growth. Further, they provide
cultural-specific meaning to the characteristics and functions of
support networks. They may also describe an emerging population
of Puerto Rican migrant women.
Implications for Counseling Psychology indicate educational approaches
for interveining on behalf of migrant Puerto Rican women,
i.e. providing language proficiency and other information needed
to effectively deal with the dominant culture. These data, also
recommend working from a strength versus deficit perspective.
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(C) copyright by Teresa R. Nazario-Crespo, 1986. This work is being made available in OpenBU by permission of its author, and is available for research purposes only. All rights are reserved to the author.