Receipt of social support and women’s health outcomes in five contexts
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Cooperative reproduction – mothers receiving support from others to raise their children – is a defining feature of human life history, allowing investment in multiple, closely spaced offspring. Most research focuses on how this support affects children's health, survival, and women's fertility, economic wellbeing, and mental health; less is known about effects on women's own physical health. This study examines that question using data from 2030 women in Bangladesh, The Gambia, India, Malawi, and the US.
We test whether the number of carers and frequency of care predict mothers' self-reported general health, blood pressure, and BMI. Results show more frequent physical childcare support predicts better self-reported health in Malawi, The Gambia, and Bangladesh, while more frequent provisioning support does so in the US. Associations with BMI and blood pressure were less consistent, though provisioning support was linked to lower odds of overweight or obesity in India and Malawi. These patterns suggest support networks matter more for perceived than objectively measured health, and that associations are context-dependent. It is also possible that women in poorer health need and receive greater support. Overall, findings point to a broader role for support networks in women's wellbeing beyond effects on fertility, mental health, and child outcomes.
Anushé Hassan is an Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Her interdisciplinary research combines anthropology, human behavioural ecology and demography to study fertility, marriage, social support and family wellbeing. She is particularly interested in how family, friends and community members shape women’s and children’s lives across different cultural settings. Her research has included work in Tanzania, Malawi, Bangladesh, India, The Gambia, the UK and the US.
Event is FREE and open to all!
LIVE Daryll Forde, Room 230 2nd Floor, UCL Anthropology Dept, 14 Taviton St, WC1H 0BW and
Online ZOOM ID 948 6108 7055 passcode Wawilak
We test whether the number of carers and frequency of care predict mothers' self-reported general health, blood pressure, and BMI. Results show more frequent physical childcare support predicts better self-reported health in Malawi, The Gambia, and Bangladesh, while more frequent provisioning support does so in the US. Associations with BMI and blood pressure were less consistent, though provisioning support was linked to lower odds of overweight or obesity in India and Malawi. These patterns suggest support networks matter more for perceived than objectively measured health, and that associations are context-dependent. It is also possible that women in poorer health need and receive greater support. Overall, findings point to a broader role for support networks in women's wellbeing beyond effects on fertility, mental health, and child outcomes.
Anushé Hassan is an Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Her interdisciplinary research combines anthropology, human behavioural ecology and demography to study fertility, marriage, social support and family wellbeing. She is particularly interested in how family, friends and community members shape women’s and children’s lives across different cultural settings. Her research has included work in Tanzania, Malawi, Bangladesh, India, The Gambia, the UK and the US.
Event is FREE and open to all!
LIVE Daryll Forde, Room 230 2nd Floor, UCL Anthropology Dept, 14 Taviton St, WC1H 0BW and
Online ZOOM ID 948 6108 7055 passcode Wawilak
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Where is it happening?
UCL Anthropology, Taviton Street, Taviton Street, London, WC1H 0BW, United Kingdom
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Host or PublisherRadical Anthropology Group
