The Relationship between Instrumental Social Support and Life Satisfaction among Teenage Mothers in Gasabo District, Rwanda: A Cross-Sectional Study

Teenage mothers increasingly experience healthcare challenges, which may undermine significantly both their mental health and life satisfaction. Although social support is theorized to buffer this relationship. This study examined the relationship between instrumental support and life satisfaction among teenage mothers in Gasabo District, Rwanda.The study sought to answer the question: What is the relationship between instrumental support and life satisfaction among teenage mothers in Gasabo District?A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 263 teenage mothers from five selected sectors of Gasabo districtusing multi-stage and snowball sampling techniques. Data were collected using validated scales for social support (MSPSS) and life satisfaction (SWLS). The data was analysed using Pearson’s correlation. The findings revealed a statistically significant negative relationship (r = -0.238, p =.000 < .001) between instrumental support and life satisfaction among teenage mothers of Gasabo District, Rwanda.The study recommended that the government of Rwanda and non- governmental organisationsshould implement support interventions that foster the holistic well-being of teenage mothers in order to enhance their overall quality of life and life satisfaction.

Teenage mothers, instrumental support, wellbeing, life satisfaction, social support

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