Journal article
Social Network Connectivity and Depression Among Single Parents in Ghana: The Mediating Role of Anxiety
International journal of social psychiatry, Vol.First online
26/12/2025
PMID: 41453828
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Abstract
Objectives: Scarce data exist on the association between social network connectivity (family and friends) and depression among single parents in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), and the mechanisms explaining the association are largely unknown. This study investigates the extent to which anxiety mediates the association between social network connectivity and depression among single parents in Ghana.
Methods: Data from 627 single parents were collected using a multi-stage stratified sampling technique. Social network connectivity was measured using the Lubben Social Network Scale-6 Item Version (LSNS-6), and depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10). Multivariable OLS models and bootstrapping mediation analyses were performed.
Results: The mean age (SD) was 45.0 (14.7) years, and 67.3% were females. After full adjustment, social network connectivity (B = -.060, SE = .021, 95% CI = -.100 to -.019, p < .005) was independently associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety (B = -.166, SE = .022, 95% CI = -.209 to -.122, p < .001), while anxiety (B = .597, SE = .035, 95% CI = .528 to .667, p < .001) is associated with higher levels of depression. Moreover, the social network connectivity-depression link was mediated by anxiety (indirect effect B = -.1000, 95% bootCI = -.1302 to -.0684), yielding 71.1% of the total effect. The sex-based mediation analysis indicated that anxiety explained a larger degree in males than in females.
Conclusions: Anxiety mediates the association between social network connectivity and depression among single parents in Ghana. Building resilient social network connectivity may provide a safety net in dealing with psychological problems among single parents.
Details
- Title
- Social Network Connectivity and Depression Among Single Parents in Ghana: The Mediating Role of Anxiety
- Creators
- Obed Jones Owusu-Sarpong - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKabila Abass - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyGeorge Dakurah - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyPrincess Ataa Frimpomaa - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDaniel Buor - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologySolomon Osei-Tutu - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyWilliams Agyemang-Duah - Queen's UniversityRazak M Gyasi - African Population and Health Research Center
- Publication Details
- International journal of social psychiatry, Vol.First online
- Publisher
- SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
- Identifiers
- 991013338790502368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2025.
- Academic Unit
- National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article