Parents’ perceived social support and psychological well-being while raising a newborn

Introduction. The postpartum period is associated with emotional difficulties and psychological challenges for both women and men. While mothers’ well-being is widely studied, the psychological state of fathers remains insufficiently analyzed. Methods. A quantitative study was conducted involving 201 parents (151 mothers and 50 fathers) raising their first newborn up to 4 weeks old and living with a partner. The research was conducted using an anonymous online survey. Two standardized scales were used for data collection: the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), along with additional socio-demographic questions. Data analysis was performed using non-parametric statistical methods. Results. 77.1% of parents perceived a high level of social support, receiving the most support from significant others, slightly less from family and friends. A higher overall level of social support was more often reported by married, higher educated, and middle-aged parents. The level of psychological well-being was moderate, but men demonstrated higher well-being than women (p < 0.001), and married parents higher than those living together unmarried (p = 0.016). A moderate positive correlation was found between social support and psychological well-being (ρ = 0.64, p < 0.001), with the strongest link between family support (ρ = 0.64) and well-being, and weaker associations with support from friends (ρ = 0.51) and significant others (ρ = 0.61). Conclusion. Perceived social support is statistically significantly associated with parents’ psychological well-being while raising a newborn. A higher level of support, especially from family, contributes to better parental well-being.