Social connectedness among parents raising children in low-income communities: An integrative review.
Corinne M Plesko, Zhiyuan Yu, Karin Tobin and 1 others
PMID 34647625WHAT IT FOUND
Parents in low-income communities often lack social connection due to scarce resources and fear of unsafe neighborhoods.
Group-based interventions that foster a sense of belonging and acceptance were associated with lower parenting stress and better mental health for parents.
Key findings
01Higher perceived neighborhood social connection was associated with lower parenting stress and acted as a partial mediator for maternal anxiety and depression.
02Qualitative data showed parents deliberately limit social connections (protective avoidance) to shield children from perceived unsafe community influences, leading to isolation.
03Group interventions that created an environment of acceptance and normalized shared struggles helped parents build connections, reduce isolation, and improve parenting skills.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The review found significant heterogeneity in how social connectedness was defined and measured, with no validated tools specific to parents. Most included studies were cross-sectional, so causality cannot be determined (e.g., does good mental health lead to more connection, or vice versa?). The literature is heavily skewed toward mothers, limiting understanding of fathers or other caregivers. Only one quasi-experimental study was included, and its results were not significantly better than the control group. Publication bias is likely, as studies with significant results are more likely to be published.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that social isolation in low-income parents is due to a lack of desire for connection or poor social skills. The review highlights that many parents intentionally limit social contact to protect their children from perceived unsafe community influences.