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Cited by 74Social Policies and FamilyFamily Dynamics and RelationshipsSocial Sciences and Policies

Parenting support in the context of poverty: a meta-synthesis of the qualitative evidence

Attree, Pamela·2005·Health and Social Care in the Community
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2005.00562.x
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Abstract

From the outset, providing support for parents has been a key feature of New Labour's policy agenda, but 'good' parenting, and child health and well-being are often undermined by the stresses associated with poverty. Moreover, there may be a gap between policy aims, and the perceptions and motivations of those intended to benefit. Drawing on a systematic review of qualitative studies of low-income parents, the present paper explores their experiences of informal and formal support networks, considering their strengths and weaknesses in the context of poverty. Traditional systematic review methods were used to locate and critically appraise 12 UK qualitative studies, which took as their focus parents' subjective experiences of caring for children in impoverished circumstances. Meta-ethnographic methods were then used to produce a qualitative meta-synthesis of findings. Exploring the similarities and differences in parents' accounts across studies identified positive and negative aspects of social support as a resource for poor parents. The review suggests that naturally occurring support systems do provide both material and emotional help to parents, but that such support has certain inherent drawbacks. It is not universally available and, in some circumstances, carries negative associations for poor families. Low-income lone mothers in particular enjoy smaller support networks, and are more reliant on mutual support than those in two-parent families. Paradoxically, it is the most socially isolated women who are least willing to seek professional help. Overall, low-income parents' experiences of formal health and social welfare agencies are mixed, and not invariably positive. In conclusion, this paper suggests that formal support services have the potential to fill gaps in informal support systems for poor families, but only if these are provided in ways which are sensitive to their needs. Therefore, parents' perspectives are essential to informing service design, development and evaluation in health and social care.

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Authors
Attree, P.
Affiliations
Lancaster University (GB)
Corresponding author
Attree, Pamela
Venue
Health and Social Care in the Community
Publisher
Hindawi Limited
Published
2005-07
Volume
13
Issue
4
Pages
330-337
ISSN
  • 0966-0410 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2524
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2524.2005.00562.x
OpenAlex
W2039559552
Cited by
74
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 5
FWCI
1.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1 (tdm, 3714 d)
Locations
  • Health & Social Care in the Community (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Narodowe Centrum Badań i Rozwoju
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Policies and Family
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
  • Social Sciences › General Social Sciences › Social Sciences and Policies
Keywords
parenting support, poverty, low-income parents, social support networks, informal support, formal support services, single mothers, social isolation, help-seeking, child health and well-being, service design
MeSH terms
Data Collection, United Kingdom, Humans, Poverty, Social Support, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Parenting, Qualitative Research

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