Different Dimensions Of Social Support Research Articles

Effect of Social Support on Multimorbidity and Related Outcomes of Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China

To analyze the current status of social support for middle-aged and older adults with multimorbidity and to explore the correlation between different dimensions of social support and multimorbidity and the related outcomes on the basis of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2015 survey data so as to reveal the complex social background of multimorbidity and the impact of social support on multimorbidity. A total of 9168 valid samples, with an average age of 59.60 years, were included in the study. Using the social support-related variables of the respondents, we conducted factor analysis and constructed regression models of common factors of social support and multimorbidity-related outcomes, intending to analyze the impact of common factors of social support on multimorbidity in the middle-aged and older adults. The multimorbidity of middle-aged and older adults in China was related to multiple factors of social support, and the differences were statistically significant. Logistic regression showed that social support in the form of activity/recreational facilities and medical resources was a protective factor of multimorbidity, that family emotional support and economic support had a positive effect on life satisfaction of comorbid patients, and that social support in the form of education, social life and housing conditions was negatively correlated with catastrophic medical expenditure of the comorbid population ( P<0.05). Social support for middle-aged and older adults in China is unevenly distributed. Social support in the form of activity/recreational facilities and medical resources may reduce the risks of multimorbidity among middle-aged and older adults. Good family economic and emotional support can improve the life satisfaction of middle-aged and older adults with multimorbidity. Social support in the form of education, social life and housing conditions may reduce the risk of catastrophic medical expenditure in middle-aged and older adults with multimorbidity.

Depressive symptomatology and different dimensions of social support serially mediate the effect of negative automatic thoughts on suicidal ideation

Depressive symptomatology and different dimensions of social support serially mediate the effect of negative automatic thoughts on suicidal ideation

Social Media and Social Support: A Framework for Patient Satisfaction in Healthcare

Social media has been a powerful source of social support for health consumers. In the healthcare sector, social media has thrived, building on various dynamic platforms supporting the connection between social relationships, health, and wellbeing. While prior research has shown that social support exerts a positive impact on health outcomes, there is scant literature examining the implications of social support for patient satisfaction, which suggests that there is a profound gap in the extant literature. The objective of this study is to develop and test a theoretical model for understanding the relationship between different dimensions of social support and patient empowerment. The study further investigates the debated relationship between patient empowerment and patient satisfaction. The measurement model indicated an acceptable fit (χ2 = 260.226; df, 107, χ2/df = 2.432, RMSEA = 0.07, GFI = 0.90, IFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.94, and CFI = 0.95). Findings indicate that emotional support (p &lt; 0.001), information support (p &lt; 0.05), and network support (p &lt; 0.001) positively influence the notion of patient empowerment. In turn, patient empowerment positively influences patient satisfaction (p &lt; 0.001). The proposed framework contributes to the health communication literature by introducing a novel framework for patient satisfaction in the social media context, which provides important inputs for healthcare service providers in developing patient empowerment strategies.

The Meaning of Social Support in Nature-Based Services for Young Adults with Mental Health Problems.

In previous studies, social context and social support have been found to be important in nature-based services. However, no studies have previously focused on the meaning of different dimensions of social support in these contexts. The aim of this study is therefore to uncover dimensions of social support in relation to mental health among young adults with mental health problems participating in nature-based services in Norway. This study applies data from a survey of 93 young adults participating in nature-based services; in addition, qualitative interview data from 20 interviews are also used. The data are analysed using qualitative content analysis, descriptive statistics, and correlation analysis. The results indicate that participants in nature-based services experience emotional, esteem, informational, and instrumental support in addition to social integration and opportunities for nurturance in these services. The service leader, other participants, and the animals are important contributors to these dimensions of social support. Nature-based services may be a helpful intervention for young adults with mental health problems. The unique context of these services, including nature and animals, adds special qualities to mental health and social work practices.

Social networks in the non-profit sector: Social support practices

This paper aims to analyze the adequacy of social support practices in the non-profit sector by users and representatives which are part of “Conselho Local de Ação Social (CLAS)” a non-profit organization located in the north of Portugal and focused on the prevention of social exclusion and poverty. A mixed methodological approach was used. A questionnaire was applied to social beneficiaries. To complement the results, interviews with the entities that constitute the executive board of CLAS were conducted. It was possible to perceive the discrepancies on the social support provided and measure the assessment given by the entity responsible for the social network. Consequently, we could conclude that the beneficiaries of the social response under research perceive a low level of social support received, as opposed to the institutions that perceive a high level of social support provided. This difference in support perception is reflected in all the dimensions analyzed. This research supports executors and decision makers responsible for the implementation of local social support policies on the alignment of beneficiaries’ expectations as well as contribute on the operation improvement of social networks. As for contributions to the practice, some practical suggestions are advised to social network operators, such as the need for more active listening with feedback for beneficiaries, as well as a set of other measures to be implemented regularly in the medium and long term. Regarding contribution to the theory, it is important to mention that the present research is innovative and original as it contributes to clarify and expand the existing literature on social networks in the tertiary sector, based on the analysis of 5 different dimensions of social support. Furthermore, the authors intend to support the welfare of users of the social network under research by increasing the performance of the social network under analysis.

Beyond ethnic solidarity: the diversity and specialisation of social ties in a stigmatised migrant minority

ABSTRACT Whether presented as ethnic ‘solidarity’ or ‘segregation’, the idea that migrants’ social world is dominated by tightly-knit, homogeneous, and supportive networks of kin and co-ethnics is common in scholarly and public discourse around migration, particularly for minorities with a history of marginalisation, segregation, and stigmatisation. We test this idea using results from the first survey of personal networks in one of the most stigmatised immigrant minorities in the Western world: Roma migrants in Europe. Analysing data on 119 Romanian Roma migrants in France and their 3,570 social ties, we identify typical structures of personal communities, describe the distribution and association of different dimensions of social support, and estimate multilevel models to identify determinants of support in this population. We find that, even in contexts of strong marginalisation and stigmatisation, the hypotheses of ethnic solidarity, sociodemographic homophily, and network closure are inadequate to explain the way migrants obtain social support. Instead, Romanian Roma in France appear much closer to the model of ‘networked individualism’ and similar to middle classes in Western ethnic majorities, as they strategically maintain diverse and far-flung networks, choose forms of elective belonging in local contexts, and mobilise different social ties for different, specialised types of support.

Understanding the relationship between positive and negative social support and the quality of life among African American breast cancer survivors.

Social support improves several quality of life (QOL) domains among African American breast cancer survivors. How different dimensions of social support are associated with QOL among African American breast cancer survivors may howeverdiffer from other populations. This study explores this hypothesis by examining associations of positive social support (supportive interactions that promote affection) and negative social support (non-supportive interactions wherein the provider of support may not have the best intended actions) with QOL among Chicago-based African American breast cancer survivors. Study participants were eligible if they (1) were identified as being an African American female, (2) were at least 18 years of age or older, and (3) were diagnosed with breast cancer during or after navigation was implemented at the study hospital. Participants completed validated questionnaires via telephone or in-person interviews. Among our sample of 100 participants, positive support was associated with greater mental well-being in non-imputed (Std β=1.60, CI: 0.51, 2.69, p= 0.004) and imputed models (Std β= 1.67, CI: 0.68, 2.73, p=0.001). There was also a weaker inverse association with negative support and mental well-being when using non-imputed data (Std β=-0.82, CI:-1.65, 0.02, p= 0.05). Our findings suggest that positive support, in particular, is highly influential for improving mental well-being among African American breast cancer survivors. Simultaneously, negative support appears to be an independent, albeit weaker, determinant of mental well-being.

Financial and Informational Social Support for the Residents of the Ceske Budejovice Region

Social support is a highly discussed topic not only abroad but also in Czech literature. The entry focuses on the topic of social support experienced by selected residents of esults of the conducted survey that included 700 respondents in total. The objective of our entry is to describe the subjective assessments of different dimensions of social support of selected residents. The questionnaire focused on three areas of social support: financial (instrumental) support, daily activities support, and information support. The results describe significant relations between these areas of social support and other selected questions. A statistically significant relation was however detected between financial support and sex, in which women receive help more frequently than men. Financial support is more often demanded by persons younger than 30. Older persons were more likely to receive such help. There was however discovered a statistically significant relation for socio-economic status and subjective assessment of quality of interpersonal relations.

Different dimensions of social support differentially predict psychological well-being in late life: opposite effects of perceived emotional support and marital status on symptoms of anxiety and of depression in older outpatients in Italy.

Social support is important to psychological well-being in late life. However, findings in the literature regarding its effects are mixed, less information is available for anxiety than for depressive symptoms, and few studies have been carried out in Italy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of social support on symptoms of anxiety and of depression in a sample of geriatric outpatients in Italy. This cross-sectional study consecutively enrolled 299 outpatients without dementia (age ≥ 65, all neuropsychologically tested). Social support was assessed with the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument and by interview. Symptoms of anxiety and of depression were evaluated with short versions of the State-Trait Personality Inventory Trait Anxiety and Geriatric Depression scales. The relationship between social support and psychological well-being was examined by multiple linear regression models with socio-demographic and clinical variables, including cognitive performance, as potential confounders. Perceived emotional support was a negative predictor of symptoms of anxiety (standardised beta coefficient (β) -0.288, standard error (SE) 0.074, P < 0.001) and symptoms of depression (β -0.196, SE 0.040, P < 0.001). On the contrary, marital status (i.e. being married) was a positive predictor of symptoms of anxiety (β 0.199, SE 0.728, P = 0.003) and symptoms of depression (β 0.142, SE 0.384, P = 0.035). Different dimensions of social support differentially affect psychological well-being. The protective effect of perceived emotional support is consistent with social cognitive models of health. The harmful effect of being married may be capturing the distress of the pre-bereavement period. Alternatively, it may reflect oppression by gender roles within marriage in a predominantly female sample in a traditional society. Our findings provide insight into the relationship between social support and psychological well-being, and identify potential targets for psychosocial interventions promoting mental health in late life.

Relationships Between Different Dimensions of Social Support and Suicidal Ideation in Young People with Major Depressive Disorder

BackgroundSuicidal ideation (SI) is a common feature of depression and is closely associated with suicidal behaviour. Social support is implicated as an important determinant of suicide, but it is unclear how different social support dimensions influence SI in young people with depression. This study examines relationships between social support dimensions and SI in young people with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods283 Australians aged 15-25, diagnosed with MDD, were recruited from two clinical trials conducted in youth-specific outpatient mental health services. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was used to evaluate perceived support from Family, Friends, and a Significant Other. Suicidal ideation was assessed using the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ). Hierarchical regression was used to explore associations between social support and SI, controlling for demographics and depression severity. ResultsA hierarchical regression model predicted 9% of the variability in SI, with depression severity being the most significant predictor. Family Support was inversely related to SI and uniquely contributed 2% of the variance; β = -0.15 (95% CI -0.27 – -0.02) p < .05. Demographics and support from Friends or a Significant Other were not significantly associated with SI. LimitationsFindings are correlational; it cannot be determined that increasing family support would decrease SI severity. ConclusionPerceived Family Support was negatively associated with SI in young people with MDD. This suggests that family members might play important roles in suicide prevention efforts. More work is needed exploring ways to empower families to develop adaptive family functioning and support.

Heterogeneous Influences of Social Support on Physical and Mental Health: Evidence from China.

Employing a national representative survey (the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2016, CLDS2016) data (N = 14246), this paper examines the heterogeneous influences of social support on individual physical and mental health in China. Social support is characterized by four dimensions: emotional support, tangible or instrumental support, interaction or exchange support, and community support. Physical health is measured by self-rated health and body mass index (BMI), while mental health is measured by depression, hopelessness, failure, fear, loneliness, and meaninglessness. The results indicate that different dimensions of social support have heterogeneous effects on individual physical and mental health. Specifically, the correlation between emotional support and individual physical health is not significant, but emotional support is significantly related to some mental health variables. Tangible or instrumental support is significantly related to individual self-rated physical health but not to BMI or mental health. Interaction or exchange support is significantly correlated with individual self-rated health and some mental health variables. In general, there are significant correlations between community support, and individual physical and mental health. The results also suggest that the influences of social support on physical and mental health of individuals at different ages (<60 years and ≥60 years) are heterogeneous. The results of this study provide direction for the dimension selection of social support to promote individual health.

Abstract 2429: Social Support as a Moderator in the Relationship between Intrusive Thoughts and Psychological Symptoms among Spanish-speaking Latinas with Breast Cancer

Abstract Background: Intrusive thoughts are associated with higher levels of psychological symptoms and impaired quality of life in the year after breast cancer treatment. To our knowledge, no studies have examined social support as a potential moderator between intrusive thoughts about breast cancer and psychological symptoms among Latinas. This study aims to assess the moderating effects of different dimensions of social support on the association between intrusive thoughts and psychological symptoms among Spanish-speaking Latina breast cancer survivors. Methods: Analyses were performed using baseline data from a randomized control trial of a stress management intervention delivered to 151 Spanish-speaking Latinas with non-metastatic breast cancer. Survey measures on intrusive thoughts, four dimensions of social support (emotional/information, tangible, affectionate, and positive social interaction), and psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, and somatization) were obtained at baseline via a structured survey. Information on age, time since diagnosis, breast cancer treatment, surgery type, breast cancer stage, history of depression and marital status was obtained via medical records review and served as covariates. Generalized linear models were used to investigate bivariate and multivariate associations and to explore moderation effects of the four dimensions of social support. Results: In the bivariate models, intrusive thoughts were associated with more depressive (β=0.024, p=0.0014), anxiety (β=0.047, p&amp;lt;.0001) and somatization symptoms (β=0.019, p = 0.0036). In multivariable models, intrusive thoughts remained strongly associated with anxiety symptoms (β=0.132, p=0.0001). In contrast, the effects of intrusive thoughts on depressive and somatization symptoms was attenuated in the multivariate models. Receiving affectionate social support was found to moderate the relationship between intrusive thoughts and anxiety symptoms (β=-0.022, p=0.0055). No dimension of social support was found to have a moderating effect in the relationship between intrusive thoughts and either depressive or somatization symptoms. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that social support, particularly affectionate support, had a protective effect on anxiety symptoms among Spanish-speaking Latinas with breast cancer experiencing intrusive thoughts. Affectionate social support is a possible protective factor that can be developed and encouraged in socio-behavioral interventions for this vulnerable population. Citation Format: Cristian Escalera, Anna Maria Napoles, Jasmine Santoyo-Olsson, Carmen Ortiz. Social Support as a Moderator in the Relationship between Intrusive Thoughts and Psychological Symptoms among Spanish-speaking Latinas with Breast Cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2429.

Association Between Perceived Social Support and Depressive Symptoms Among Community-Dwelling Older Chinese Americans.

Purpose: This study examined the association between social support and depressive symptoms among U.S. Chinese older adults. Methods: Data were from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE) study. Independent variables were positive and negative perceived social support (PSS). Dependent variable was depressive symptoms. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: A total of participants were 3,157 Chinese older adults with the mean age of 72.8 years (range 60-105 years). After controlling for confounding factors, Chinese older adults with higher positive PSS were 12% (odds ratio [OR] = 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.85, 0.92]) and 18% (OR = 0.82, 95% CI = [0.79, 0.86]) less likely to report mild and moderate-severe depressive symptoms, respectively, compared to reporting minimal depressive symptoms; On the contrary, Chinese older adults with higher negative PSS were 34% (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = [1.24, 1.46]) and 38% (OR = 1.38, 95% CI = [1.26, 1.52]) more likely to report mild and moderate-severe depressive symptoms, respectively. Discussion: The study findings corroborate previous research that social support is significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Our findings reinforce the importance of developing strategies to utilize positive social support and limit negative support in practice for the depressed older adults. Further studies should be conducted to better understand the associations between different dimensions of social support and depression among U.S. Chinese older adults.

Exploring continuance intention of social networking sites

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the determinants of continuance intention of social networking site (SNS) users through a new perspective and discuss how to retain SNS users. Design/methodology/approach The author proposed a research model by integrating network externalities and social support. Three dimensions of social support and two types of network externalities were analyzed, respectively, to explore the direct and indirect effects on continuance intention. Online questionnaires were adopted to collect data, and 513 valid samples were analyzed by structural equation modeling approach. Findings The findings show that network externalities have a significant indirect effect on user’ continuance intention through the mediation effects of social support, and among the three dimensions of social support, network management plays a more important role on continuance intention. Research limitations/implications The findings suggest that network externalities can trigger the function of social support to keep the “stickiness” of SNS users, and network management is the key dimension of online social support. Some other theoretical and practical implications are also provided. Originality/value The study is novel in exploring users’ continuance intention of SNSs by integrating social support and network externalities. Meanwhile, the author also intends to compare the effect of different dimensions of social support on SNS usage and discuss their internal relationships.

It’s the Audience: Differences in Social Support Across Social Media

Responding to recent calls to transcend social media platforms when examining media effects, and using the social information processing model to predict and explain results, this multi-method study first uses a US national survey ( N = 325) to examine perceived effectiveness of social support and relational closeness via paralinguistic digital affordances (PDAs; e.g., “Likes,” “+1s,” and “Upvotes”)—the one-click tools for phatic communication—between social media platforms. Results of the survey reveal some significant between-platform differences in perceived effectiveness of social support provided by a PDA, but no significant differences in the relational closeness of ties across platforms. These findings were used to design and conduct focus groups ( N = 36) to understand why the identified differences exist. Focus groups reveal that although social support is exchanged across all platforms, different dimensions of social support are sought and received depending on the platform and the network audience that platform accesses. In addition, the focus groups revealed meaningful differences in the nature of network relationships between the platforms, if not the degree of closeness. Taking the two studies together, it seems the adoption and continued use of a platform is an idiosyncratic function of both the social and the technological. Findings underscore the importance of conducting cross-platform studies and demonstrate the value of using PDAs as a convenient cross-platform comparison tool, as they are one of the few common features across social media.

What happens on Facebook stays on Facebook? The implications of Facebook interaction for perceived, receiving, and giving social support

Relatively few studies have examined the social implications of SNSs for various dimensions of social support, even though different dimensions of social support can have differential impacts on people’s well-being. This study fills this gap by examining how Facebook interaction is related to various types of social support—enacted receiving and giving social support on Facebook and perceived social support in general. A survey of college students at a large public university in the U.S. reveals that Facebook interaction is positively related to receiving and giving social support on Facebook. However, neither social interaction nor enacted social support on Facebook is related to perceived social support in general.

The differential relationships of dimensions of perceived social support with cognitive function among older adults

Objectives: Research has extensively examined the relationship of social support and cognition. Theories on social support suggest that it is a multidimensional construct including perceptions, actual assistance, and level of integration into a social network. Little is known, however, about the differential associations between distinct dimensions of perceived social support and cognition. This study examined whether four empirically validated dimensions of perceived social support were differentially related to cognitive function in aging, and whether this association was moderated by gender. Methods: The sample included 355 community-residing older adults (mean age = 77 years; %female = 55) enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study. Social support was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey. Cognition was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Results: Principal component analysis yielded four factors capturing different dimensions of social support: emotional/informational support, positive social interaction, tangible support, and affectionate support. Linear regression analyses revealed that both perceived emotional/informational support (beta = 1.41, p = 0.03; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = .156–2.669) and positive social interaction (beta = 1.71, p = 0.01; 95% CI = .428–2.988) were significantly associated with RBANS total index score. Further analyses revealed that gender moderated the relationship between emotional/informational support (beta = 1.266, p = 0.04), demonstrating that higher levels of perceived emotional support were associated with higher index scores in females but not in males. Discussion : The associations between perceived emotional/informational support and positive social interaction suggest that social engagement may be an important target for intervention procedures for individuals at risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

The value of social support to encourage people with schizophrenia to engage in physical activity: an international insight from specialist mental health physiotherapists

Background: Research is needed to understand how mental health physiotherapists use social support when promoting physical activity.Aims: The aim of this study was to establish which dimensions of social support are used within physiotherapy sessions for individuals with schizophrenia.Method: A cross sectional international survey design of specialist mental health physiotherapists was undertaken.Results: Forty mental health physiotherapists provided in depth accounts of the four functional dimensions of social support (informational, tangible, esteem and emotional) and the one structural dimension (importance of group exercise). The results illustrate how these different dimensions of social support are used by physiotherapists to engage patients and identify the value of group work as a specific form of support. Specifically the importance of all types of support was reported and this helped to provide a detailed consideration to the skills that mental health physiotherapist have.Conclusion: Providing social support is a significant part of the rehabilitation professionals’ role. The current results advance the current understanding of how social support is provided to individuals with schizophrenia in rehabilitation settings.

Relational constitution of social support in migrants’ transnational personal communities

Migrants’ personal communities are often composed of both local and transnational ties. So far little is known about how transnationality influences the provision of different dimensions of social support in migrants’ personal communities. Structural and relational characteristics of personal communities as well as attributes of egos are seen to explain how social support is provided. The study addresses the question of which dimensions of support are transferred across national borders as well as what structural, relational and ego-attributional constituents of migrants’ personal communities form social support. It presents data on personal communities from an online survey with n=234 German migrants in Great Britain. The results show that household, local, national and transnational relationships provide a wide array of social support. Though being restricted in the tangible dimensions of social support (instrumental, social companionship), transnational ties provide more intangible (emotional) support. Conflicts are less prevalent in transnational relationships than within the household. Furthermore, the multi-level analysis of the ego-centred network data shows that both structural characteristics of personal communities (size, density) and ego attributes (e.g. age and gender of ego, time of residence in country of residence) are less relevant than relational characteristics (e.g. contact frequency, tie strength and esp. transnationality) in explaining how migrants receive social support. This result challenges a structural approach to the explanation of social support in personal communities of mobile people.

Influence of Social Support on Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment, Depressive Symptoms, or Both Coexisting

The influence of social support dimensions (the extent of contact with others, the satisfaction with contacts, and the availability of help if sick or disabled) in elderly people with cognitive impairment (COG), depressive symptoms (DEP), or the co-occurrence of these symptoms (COG-DEP) was assessed in a cross-sectional analysis of a representative sample of 579 individuals aged 65 years and older. A lower extent of contact was related to COG (OR: 2.26). Fair satisfaction with contacts was related to DEP (OR: 2.88) and COG-DEP (OR: 4.22). A low level of satisfaction with contacts was an important predictor for DEP (OR: 7.99) and COG-DEP (OR: 7.88). Therefore, different dimensions of social support were independently correlated with different aspects of mental health. Quantitative aspects of social support were significantly linked to the presence of cognitive impairment. Satisfaction with social support affected depressive symptoms both alone and when they co-occurred with cognitive impairment.