Social support network and life satisfaction, key factors for adoptive lone mothers

Abstract

Families headed by a woman who has actively decided to be a solo mother are increasing in our society. Adoption and assisted reproduction techniques are the ways that majority of women use to get access to lone motherhood, both with a common purpose: to realize their desire for motherhood. The objectives of this study are: (1) to know the social support networks of women who have decided to be lone mothers through international adoption; (2) to explore their vital satisfaction; and (3) to analyze the relationship between social support and life satisfaction. Thirty-eight lone adoptive mothers from Andalusia (Spain) were interviewed. Results show that adoptive lone mothers have a wide social support network with which they feel very satisfied and to which they also admit to need. They have a high life satisfaction. Moreover, it is especially interesting that lone adoptive mothers who are more satisfied with their social support network are also the ones who are more satisfied with their lives. These results are discussed in the light of scientific literature.