Informal and Formal Family Social Support Among Finnish Parents: A Person‐Oriented Approach
Micaela Meriläinen, Elina Molodtsova, Kaisa AunolaABSTRACT
Objective
This study examined Finnish parents' willingness to seek informal and formal family support, the barriers to doing so, and identified distinct support profiles based on perceived availability of informal and formal family support. It also explored how these profiles relate to background factors and parental well‐being.
Background
Social support is essential for parental well‐being and children's development. Understanding the variability in family support profiles and the reasons parents may not seek help is critical for improving support systems.
Method
An online survey was completed by 915 Finnish parents (89% mothers).
Results
Nearly 20% of parents were unlikely to seek either informal or formal support. Common barriers included: (a) limited access to services, (b) a sense of sole responsibility for childrearing, (c) doubts about relatives' competence, and (d) a preference for informal over professional help. Four support profiles emerged: high overall support (55.1%), low formal support (19.3%), low informal support (17.2%), and low overall support (8.4%). Profiles with low support were more common among fathers and parents with lower socioeconomic status, and they were associated with reduced well‐being.
Conclusions and Implications
The findings underscore the importance of accessible formal family services and strengthening informal networks to support parental well‐being in Finland.