Abstract
This study examined the effects of social support on the perceived life satisfaction of middle-aged wives. To better understand the effects of social support on the perceived life satisfaction of middle-aged wives this study considered the following four different types of social support: emotional material informational and companionshp support. In addition each type of social support from the following five sources-the family of origin network the family of husband network friends neighbors and social organization-were examined separately in relation to the perceived life satisfaction of middle-aged wives. The data for his study were collected in the winter of 1995 from 417 housewives in Pusam wholse youngest child has graduated from elementary schools. Analyses of these data proved that (1) contrary to the classical "middle-age cristis" theory the average level of the perceived life satisfaction of middle-aged wives is relatively high; (2) there is a strong positive correla ion between the global level of social support and the overall life satisfaction of middle-aged wives; (3) the family of origin network is the most important provider of social support to middle-aged wives; and (4) the effects of social support on the perceived life satisfaction of middle-aged wives differ across types and sources of support. Findings showed that emotional informational and companionship support from the family of origin network have significantly positive effects on the perceived life satisfaction of middle-aged wives. On he other hand the material support from the family of origin network proved to have little effect.le effect.
