Women’s Perceived Social Support Through Self-Help Group: Case Study of Kudumbashree From Capital District of Kerala

Jul 13, 2026

Upload by Eden

Study of Kudumbashree self-help groups (SHGs) examines how microcredit-oriented women’s collectives in Thiruvananthapuram shape perceived social support. Using a cross-sectional survey of 502 women with a detailed demographic questionnaire and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the research compares support levels across demographic groups. Findings show older, married, largely rural housewives with longer SHG membership report higher family and overall support, especially among women with lower education and higher monthly savings.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

Abstract

Study Context and Program Background

Kudumbashree and SHG concept

Research Design and Measures

Cross-sectional survey and MSPSS

Participant Profile and Key Findings

Demographic patterns and social support differences

Implications and Recommendations

Social Work with Groups ISSN: 0160-9513 (Print) 1540-9481 (Online) Journal [homepage: ](homepage: www.tandfonline.com/journals/wswg20)[www.tandfonline.com/journals/wswg20](homepage: www.tandfonline.com/journals/wswg20) Women’s perceived social support through selfhelp group: case study of Kudumbashree from capital district of Kerala Bobichan George, Jasmine Joseph, Santhosh Kareepadath Rajan & R. Esaac To cite this article: Bobichan George, Jasmine Joseph, Santhosh Kareepadath Rajan & R. Esaac (2026) Women’s perceived social support through self-help group: case study of Kudumbashree from capital district of Kerala, Social Work with Groups, 49: 1, 34-48, DOI: 10. 1080/01609513 .2025.2539418 To link to this article: [https://doi.org/10.1080/01609513.2025.2539418](https://doi.org/10.1080/01609513.2025.2539418) Published online: 25 Jul 2025. | Submit your article to this journal | | | --- | --- | | | Article views: 207 | | | View related articles | | View Crossmark data | | | Citing articles: 1 View citing articles | | Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at [https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=wswg20](https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=wswg20) Women’s perceived social support through self-help group: case study of Kudumbashree from capital district of Kerala Bobichan Georgea, Jasmine Joseph b, Santhosh Kareepadath Rajan c , and R. Esaacd aResearch Scholar, Department of Social Work, Anugraha Institute of Social Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai; bResearch Scholar, School of Psychological Sciences, CHRIST University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India-; cSchool of Psychological Science, CHRIST University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India; dResearch Supervisor, Department of Social Work, Anugraha Institute of Social Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai ABSTRACT This study examines Kudumbashree, a women’s 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 decisionmaking. 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. ARTICLE HISTORY Received 26 November 2024 Revised 17 June 2025 Accepted 25 June 2025 KEYWORDS Kudumbashree; SHG; social support; women empowerment; India The concept of Kudumbashree – Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have emerged asa powerful tool for women’s empowerment and socio-economic development in the state of Kerala in India (Bindu, 2018; Krishna & Jacob, 2022) . Empowering women is crucial as it directly correlates with impr

FAQs

What is the main focus of the Kudumbashree study?

The study examines women’s perceived social support in Kudumbashree SHGs, emphasizing the role of microcredit and women’s collective participation in building agency and support networks.

How was perceived social support measured?

Perceived social support was measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) alongside an extensive demographic questionnaire in a cross-sectional survey of 502 women.

Which participant characteristics were associated with higher perceived social support?

Women with lower education levels and rural residence, as well as those saving more than 300 INR monthly, reported higher family and overall perceived social support.

Jul 13, 2026

Upload by Eden