Womens perceived social support through self-help group: case study of Kudumbashree from capital district of Kerala
- Title
- Womens perceived social support through self-help group: case study of Kudumbashree from capital district of Kerala
- Creator
- George, Bobichan; Joseph, Jasmine; Rajan, Santhosh Kareepadath; Esaac, R.
- Description
- This study examines Kudumbashree, a womens self-help group (SHG) with a strong emphasis on microcredit, in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala state in India. It is a valuable program because it provides access to credit and savings mechanisms, fosters a sense of agency, decision-making power, and social support among women in these areas. The study explores the demographic characteristics of members, their involvement in SHGs, and compares perceived social support levels across different demographic groups. The study uses a cross-sectional survey of 502 women using an extensive demographic questionnaire and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) questionnaire. The study participants were mostly older, married women who were primarily housewives from both nuclear and joint families, predominantly in rural areas. Many women had been SHG members for over a decade and actively participated in meetings and decision-making. The study revealed that women with lower education levels, rural and those saving more than 300 INR monthly perceived higher social support from family and overall. Considering that women in rural India averaged around 250 INR in daily earnings from casual labor during 2022, the fact that a substantial number of participants saved more than 300 INR monthly highlights the significance of their savings. The study contributes to the understanding of Kudumbashree SHGs and emphasizes their role in providing social support, financial empowerment, and a sense of community. The study also highlights the need for ongoing support and capacity building to further enhance their impact. 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
- Source
- Social Work with Groups;Volume;49;Issue;1;pp.34-48
- Date
- 01-01-2026
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Subject
- India; Kudumbashree; SHG; social support; women empowerment
- Coverage
- George B., Department of Social Work, Anugraha Institute of Social Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India; Joseph J., School of Psychological Sciences, CHRIST University, Karnataka, Bengaluru, India; Rajan S.K., School of Psychological Science, CHRIST University, Karnataka, Bengaluru, India; Esaac R., Department of Social Work, Anugraha Institute of Social Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India
- Rights
- Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library
- Relation
- ISSN: 1609513;
- Format
- online
- Language
- English
- Type
- Article
Collection
Citation
George, Bobichan; Joseph, Jasmine; Rajan, Santhosh Kareepadath; Esaac, R., “Womens perceived social support through self-help group: case study of Kudumbashree from capital district of Kerala,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 18, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/22647.