Informal support networks as a source of strength for mother-headed households in Cato Crest informal settlement, eThekwini

Gender, informal social support networks, and elderly urban African Americans

BackgroundInformal support is essential for enabling many older people to age in place. However, there is limited research examining the information needs of older adults’ informal support networks and how these could be met through home monitoring and information and communication technologies.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate how technologies that connect older adults to their informal and formal support networks could assist aging in place and enhance older adults’ health and well-being.MethodsSemistructured interviews were conducted with 10 older adults and a total of 31 members of their self-identified informal support networks. They were asked questions about their information needs and how technology could support the older adults to age in place. The interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed.ResultsThe analysis identified three overarching themes: (1) the social enablers theme, which outlined how timing, informal support networks, and safety concerns assist the older adults’ uptake of technology, (2) the technology concerns theme, which outlined concerns about cost, usability, information security and privacy, and technology superseding face-to-face contact, and (3) the information desired theme, which outlined what information should be collected and transferred and who should make decisions about this.ConclusionsOlder adults and their informal support networks may be receptive to technology that monitors older adults within the home if it enables aging in place for longer. However, cost, privacy, security, and usability barriers would need to be considered and the system should be individualizable to older adults’ changing needs. The user requirements identified from this study and described in this paper have informed the development of a technology that is currently being prototyped.

Household-based determinants of cooking and heating fuel mixes in informal settlements of Kisumu City, Kenya

To explore the resources that patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes drew upon to manage the disease in their daily lives. Type 2 diabetes is a disease affecting Australian adults at a rate described as an 'epidemic'. Treatment usually focuses on patient self-management, which may require daily blood sugar monitoring, oral medications or injectable therapies, and regulating diet and exercise. Health research studies of patient self-management, including those involving type 2 diabetes, have focused largely on individual-centred definitions, though a number of studies, in particular qualitative studies, have indicated the positive role of social relationships and informal social networks. Exploratory, qualitative. The project focused on 26 patients attending a diabetes centre for clinical consultations with centre staff including doctors, diabetes educators, podiatrists and dietitians. The consultations were observed and audio recorded, followed by semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews with the patients and separate interviews with the consulting professional staff. Overwhelmingly the patients drew on informal social networks of support to manage the disease. Spouses were significant, sometimes presenting with the patient as a 'team' approach to managing the disease. Sons and daughters also played a significant support role, especially interpreting during consultations and explaining health information. In some cases neighbours and also local community organisations provided informal support. Only two patients claimed not to use informal social support. Informal social support in patients' self-management of type 2 diabetes was found to be an important factor to be considered by clinicians. The study suggested the need for a more deliberate or pro-active policy to involve patients' family and other informal social networks in treatment programs. Clinicians may need document and incorporate informal social support in the development and implementation of patient management plans.

Despite the many hard-won victories of the antidomestic violence movement, it has had less success in reaching one of its own primary goals: that of making intimate partner violence a problem of the community rather than a problem between two individuals. Most mainstream domestic violence service models have not prioritized ongoing engagement of survivors' informal social support networks as a core part of their work. Yet the perpetration of domestic violence occurs within a community context that contributes to the maintenance or alleviation of the problem. Given extensive research on the centrality of social networks to the fabric of survivors' daily lives, as well as their ongoing safety and emotional well-being, it is critical to consider how domestic violence services and systems can align with these social networks more effectively. Following a review of research on the role of informal social support in survivors' lives, this article calls for a shift in mainstream domestic violence services toward a more network-oriented approach, one that highlights potential partnerships between professionals and survivors' informal social support networks. Such a shift would require a reconceptualization of the role of the domestic violence practitioner and the scope and nature of services. It would also raise a series of emergent research questions about how informal network members can best support survivors, how domestic violence services can help survivors engage with existing and new supporters, and the extent to which specific types of network-oriented practices can indeed improve survivors' safety and well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)

ObjectiveFrom the perspective of informal social support, this paper analysed the impact of factors such as “Relationship with spouse”, “Relationship with Children”, “Financial support from children”, “Sibling support”, “Support from other friends and relatives” and “Borrowing costs” on the health poverty vulnerability of elderly people in rural China.MethodsBased on the data of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2018, the vulnerability of the rural elderly to health poverty was measured from two dimensions of health status and influencing factors of health status by the three-stage feasible generalized least square method. A quantile regression model was used to analyse the impact of six variables in the informal social support network on health poverty vulnerability: “Relationship with spouse”, “Relationship with children”, “Financial support from children”, " Sibling support”, " Support from other friends and relatives”, and “Borrowing costs”.ResultsWhen the poverty line standards were 2995 CNY/year and 4589 CNY/year, the health poverty vulnerability of the elderly population in rural China was 0.397 and 0.598 in 2018. In the analysis of informal social support, factors such as the relationship with spouse, relationship with children, borrowing costs, support from other friends and relatives, and sibling support had different impacts on the health poverty vulnerability of the rural elderly, who were classified into three groups according to their different vulnerabilities.ConclusionAccording to the analysis of the 2018 CHARLS database, the health poverty vulnerability of the elderly population was related to the informal social support network, and it is necessary to pay attention to the role of informal channels such as children, spouses, relatives and friends in daily care and financial support for rural elderly individuals. Meanwhile, the government and other formal organizations should also give full play to their supporting role for elderly individuals, who are highly vulnerable to health poverty, and their families.

BackgroundThis study analyzed the factors affecting the use of improved cook stoves (ICS) in informal settlements of Addis Ababa based on the data generated from 450 households drawn from Woreda (Woreda is a local term used to describe the lowest administrative unit of Addis Ababa City Administration, Ethiopia.) 12 of Yeka subcity. It examined the interactive effect of households’ socio-economic backgrounds and energy sources on the adoption of ICS. The data were analyzed using descriptive methods and the multinomial logit model.ResultsDemographic and economic factors such as sex of the household head,[Household head is the one who has an income and decision-making power in family affairs (a husband for married people)], family size and family income have no relationships with households’ ICS use while education level, number of years lived in the area, type of home owned, and stove-operating costs have a significant influence on the choice of an ICS. Households that live in a good home (made from wood and cement) used more Mirt (Mirt is an improved firewood stove mainly used to bake Injera and bread.) and Lakech [Lakech also called Tikikil is an improved charcoal stove used to cook different kinds of dishes (non-Injera)] stoves than the traditional three-stone stoves. On the other hand, household heads with higher levels of education and who have lived more than 7 years in the area in a better home owned more ICS than the traditional three-stone stoves.ConclusionsThe availability, affordability, durability and simplicity to operate stoves, and subsidies affect the choice of an ICS. Energy sources that are commonly used by households in informal settlements also have a strong influence on the choice of energy-efficient stoves. Compared to ICS, heavy use of traditional three-stone stoves by households that already have access to electricity, directs government policies to focus on providing reliable electric service and subsidize those using ICS.

More male caregivers are assuming primary caregiving roles for older adults with chronic health conditions. One of the main sources of support for many caregivers is the assistance that is provided by members of their informal support network. Little is known about the relationship between male caregivers and their informal support networks. This qualitative study examines the experience of male caregivers with their informal support networks, specifically looking at two phenomena: (1) Perceptions of the male caregivers about the willingness of their informal support networks to provide caregiving assistance and (2) Willingness of the male caregivers to ask their informal support networks for assistance. Twenty male caregivers were recruited across a rural Midwestern state. Each male caregiver engaged in two interviews that lasted between 60 and 120 minutes. Seven themes emerged from the data about the male caregivers experience with their informal support networks. Results from this study have implications for geriatric health professionals who work with male caregivers to obtain the necessary amount of caregiving assistance.

DIMENSIONS OF INFORMAL SUPPORT NETWORK DEVELOPMENT IN AN ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN THE NEW SOUTH: A GROUNDED THEORY By SUZIE S. WENG, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2013 Major Director: Dr. Mary Katherine O’Connor Professor, School Of Social Work The continuum of care framework posits that individuals move from one level to the next in seeking resources for help ranging from first using informal support to finally using formal services. Yet, the literature is mostly focused on formal services. It is well-known in the literature that existing formal services are underutilized by the Asian American population. If that is also the case in nontraditional settlement cities like Richmond, Virginia, the continuum of care framework and existing literature suggest that Asian Americans are turning to their informal support networks to meet their needs. Thus far, the literature on informal support networks is very limited and a focus on Asian American communities is nonexistent. Furthermore, there is not an adequate theory to explain and predict this phenomenon. This study uses a grounded theory design to develop a testable theory that could further the understanding of informal support networks in the Asian American community. The theory posits that the Asian culture and community influence how individuals within the community seek help in times of need and, in turn, the helping process developed within the informal support network is a reinforcement of the Asian culture and community. When individuals have needs, they look to the informal support network and the network is developed in response to those needs. However, the informal support network is not able to meet all the needs of the Asian American community. At times, though infrequent, when the informal support network cannot meet the need, individuals are referred to mainstream services. Therefore, the informal support network serves as a gatekeeper to mainstream services. In addition, needs are rarely successfully met directly by mainstream services because of inaccessibility. Consequently, mainstream services provide infrequent help in meeting the needs of the Asian American community. It is important to comprehend how these developing communities in the new South are responding to their own needs. This understanding will allow mainstream services to extend formal systems of care and better partner with existing resources to effectively serve the increasing Asian American population in the South.

BackgroundIn recent years, people with mental health problems are increasingly using online social networks to receive social support. For example, in online depression communities, patients can share their experiences, exchange valuable information, and receive emotional support to help them cope with their disease. Therefore, it is critical to understand how patients with depression develop online social support networks to exchange informational and emotional support.ObjectiveOur aim in this study was to investigate which user attributes have significant effects on the formation of informational and emotional support networks in online depression communities and to further examine whether there is an association between the two social networks.MethodsWe used social network theory and constructed exponential random graph models to help understand the informational and emotional support networks in online depression communities. A total of 74,986 original posts were retrieved from 1077 members in an online depression community in China from April 2003 to September 2017 and the available data were extracted. An informational support network of 1077 participant nodes and 6557 arcs and an emotional support network of 1077 participant nodes and 6430 arcs were constructed to examine the endogenous (purely structural) effects and exogenous (actor-relation) effects on each support network separately, as well as the cross-network effects between the two networks.ResultsWe found significant effects of two important structural features, reciprocity and transitivity, on the formation of both the informational support network (r=3.6247, P<.001, and r=1.6232, P<.001, respectively) and the emotional support network (r=4.4111, P<.001, and r=0.0177, P<.001, respectively). The results also showed significant effects of some individual factors on the formation of the two networks. No significant effects of homophily were found for gender (r=0.0783, P=.20, and r=0.1122, P=.25, respectively) in the informational or emotional support networks. There was no tendency for users who had great influence (r=0.3253, P=.05) or wrote more posts (r=0.3896, P=.07) or newcomers (r=–0.0452, P=.66) to form informational support ties more easily. However, users who spent more time online (r=0.6680, P<.001) or provided more replies to other posts (r=0.5026, P<.001) were more likely to form informational support ties. Users who had a big influence (r=0.8325, P<.001), spent more time online (r=0.5839, P<.001), wrote more posts (r=2.4025, P<.001), or provided more replies to other posts (r=0.2259, P<.001) were more likely to form emotional support ties, and newcomers (r=–0.4224, P<.001) were less likely than old-timers to receive emotional support. In addition, we found that there was a significant entrainment effect (r=0.7834, P<.001) and a nonsignificant exchange effect (r=–0.2757, P=.32) between the two networks.ConclusionsThis study makes several important theoretical contributions to the research on online depression communities and has important practical implications for the managers of online depression communities and the users involved in these communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed social life. This secondary qualitative analysis aimed to better understand the impact of the pandemic on bereaved hospice family caregivers’ experiences of social connection and isolation in a time of social distancing and general anxiety. Six caregivers in three states recorded audio diaries (N=59) between March 13th to May 15th, 2020. Caregivers were on average 56.80 years old (SD= 14.22, range=32–67), and consisted of spouses (n=2), adult children (n=3), and a sibling (n=1). Using NVIVO 12, caregiver diaries were coded for 1) Social Connection (n=23), defined as being able to access or seeking informal or formal social support networks; 2) Isolation (n=17), defined as being unable or reluctant to access informal or formal social support networks, or feeling alone; and 3) Bereavement Processes (n=147), informed by the Dual Process Model of Bereavement (restoration and loss-oriented stressors). Content analysis revealed that caregivers were able to connect with others despite physical distancing expectations, expressed loneliness and grief while in isolation, and described moving on in the face of uncertainty. Findings provide insight into how caregivers experienced bereavement during the initial period of the pandemic and highlight implications for hospice bereavement services.

Purpose: To explore how the process of undergoing and recovering from knee replacement surgery alters patients’ experiences and use of their support networks.Methods: Ten patients having knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis were invited to take part in in-depth interviews prior to surgery and 2–4 weeks, 6 and 12 months post-operatively. Transcripts were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.Results: Three superordinate themes were identified: (1) relationships with health professionals over the knee replacement journey; (2) implications for informal relationships and support networks and (3) providing support to others.Conclusions: Transformation from a person with osteoarthritis to someone recovering from a surgical intervention can lead to alterations in the source, type and level of support people receive from others, and can also change the assistance that they themselves are able to offer. Findings highlight the value of the concept of interdependence to our understanding of participants’ experiences. Activity undertaken by informal support networks assists participants to cope with the consequences of osteoarthritis and surgery, and fills in the gap when more formal support is lacking. However, it is essential that provision of care is individually tailored and that formal support is adequate at times when informal support networks are unavailable.Implications for RehabilitationActivity undertaken by informal support networks can help patients who undergo knee replacement cope with the consequences of their operation; filling the void when support from health professionals is lacking.Contact with health professionals after surgery enhances confidence and offers reassurance; helping to facilitate the recovery process from knee replacement.Findings highlight, from patients’ own perspectives, the potential value of post-operative physiotherapy received soon after surgery and the possible role of long-term follow up.Missing or ill-timed support from health professionals can have negative psychosocial consequences for patients going through joint replacement.

Literature reviews on elder orphans recommended the need of an in-depth exploration of health care and social issues from their actual experiences. This article explores the experiences of elder orphans living independently in the community on their own with no immediate or close family support. The study utilized a qualitative descriptive approach through face-to-face interviews. Two main themes emerged from the data. The first theme was “advance plans” with the subthemes (a) my to-do list and (b) the right timing. The second theme identified was “informal support network” with the subthemes (a) family is right here and (b) familiarized support system. These findings offered insights on how existing informal networks influence elder orphans’ consideration for advance directives in terms of timing. Moreover, the findings have identified the extent of which informal support network has been received by elder orphans. Currently, the support threshold of these informal networks is unknown, which warrants further research.

Child protection policy in Sweden, as in many other countries, emphasises the involvement of families’ informal social networks in assessment and decision-making. However, limited empirical knowledge exists about how informal networks are recognised and used in investigative practice. This study examines how informal social networks are identified, described, and involved in child protection assessments in Sweden, and whether practices differ between municipalities using Signs of Safety and those that do not. The analysis draws on 242 assessments from six municipalities and observations of 30 case-focused supervision sessions. The findings reveal that informal network members were mentioned in most assessments, but direct involvement was rare. Network information was seldom integrated into analytical reasoning. Differences between municipalities were more pronounced than differences associated with SoS use. While SoS appeared to shape attention to networks, it did not substantially transform investigative routines. Drawing on institutional logic theory and legal literacy research, the study suggests that accountability and legal defensibility shape what knowledge becomes actionable in assessments. Informal networks' contributions are difficult to document and justify within investigative reasoning. The findings point to the need for organisational conditions that support the operationalisation of network-oriented ambitions in child protection assessments.

Infant crying influences the caregiver and the broader caregiving environment. In this study, cry acoustics were recorded and acoustically analyzed from a sample of fullterm and preterm infants at 40 weeks gestational age, along with the medical risk and socioeconomic status (SES) of the family. Following factor analysis of the cry acoustics, cry factors, along with medical risk and SES were used to predict patterns of social support in the informal (family, friends) and formal (health care providers) social support networks at 44 weeks gestational age. One cry factor, temporal patterning, indicative of the influence of respiratory factors on the infant's cry, predicted a significant amount of variance in the amount of support from the informal network, beyond that predicted from medical risk and SES. Medical risk alone predicted the amount of contact with the formal network, and SES predicted satisfaction with help from the formal network. There were different patterns of relationship between cry acoustics and social support for families with term and preterm infants, indicating that caregivers may interpret and respond to different information in the acoustics of their infants' cries. These findings have implications for understanding how infant crying and behavior influence the caregiving environment and for the clinical management of early cry problems in families with infants differing in risk status. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.