Perceived Social Support and Family Functioning: A Comparative Study between Single and Intact Mothers of Sikkim

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Page: 1357-1361

Binny Khati, Pradyumna Kumar Panda, and C Lalfamkima Varte (Department of Psychology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram)

With the increasing number of single-parent families in India, particularly due to divorce, separation, or widowhood, it is vital to understand the psychosocial challenges they face, especially in under-researched regions like Sikkim. In this study, we compared perceived social support and family functioning between hundred-five single mothers and hundred-five intact mothers from different districts of Sikkim, using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Family Assessment Measure III. A non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test (Table 2) was conducted to compare single and intact mothers for social support. Test revealed significantly lower social support among single mothers (U= 2504, p<.001, r=.546). Interestingly, results from an independent sample t-test showed that single mothers reported higher levels of family functioning (t= 2.48, p<.05), potentially reflecting adaptive resilience or strengthened familial roles. These findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive psychosocial interventions and inclusive family policies that consider the unique familial dynamics within Sikkim.