The Role of the Social Network in Psychosomatic Day Care and Inpatient Care

Abstract

There are many studies on the relationship between social ties and mental health but there is so far no research on the role of the social network in relation to inpatient or day-care treatment. This is of interest as in inpatient treatment patients are taken out of their social network completely, while in day care they are left in their natural environment. This study investigates whether there are interactions between the mode of care (inpatient versus day-care treatment) and characteristics of the social network. Fifty seven matched pairs (inpatients, day-care patients) with mental or psychosomatic disorders were assessed with the Multidimensional Social Contact Circle Questionnaire (MuSC-Q). Patients and their partners were asked to characterize their mutual relationship. Patients who were married or living together with a partner were more often treated in day care. Social integration and social strain similarly decreased during inpatient and day-care treatment whereas emotional support increased. While both patient groups evaluated the relationship to their partner similarly, the partners of day-care patients saw more strain on their relationship during hospitalization. The results suggest that patients who do not live alone prefer the day-care treatment facility. Patients in both modes of care at the end see their partnership as more supportive. For their partners, day care means that they have greater burdens to cope with when the patient is in treatment and still at home.