Moms Need Social Support, And Not Just In The Baby Years

Raising children is a task that requires extensive "on-the-job" training, which is why many women rely on new moms groups for parenting support and guidance. Often, however, as the kids get older, the mothers' friendships fall by the wayside.

Now, new research indicates that social support isn't just valuable for mothers of young children, it's beneficial for moms of teens, too.

The study, published this spring in the journal Family Process, suggests that these support networks may help mothers develop closer relationships with their teens.

"Having someone to talk to about your, an assistant professor of social work at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and lead author of the study. "However, this type of social support impacts parenting behaviors for mothers and fathers differently."