Higher Perceived Social Support Research Articles

Influence of physical activity level and perceived social support on mental health and psychological distress in women with menopause problems

ABSTRACT Perceived Social Support (PSS) and Physical Activity (PA) could have an important role in reducing psychological distress in women with problems in the menopausal period. The aim was to analyze the associations between a) Self-Perceived Health (SPH), prevalence of self-reported depression and anxiety, and mental health and its subscales, through the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) with b) the Physical Activity Level (PAL) and c) the PSS, through the Duke-UNC-11 functional social support questionnaire in Spanish women with problems in the menopausal period. This document uses data from the Spanish National Health Survey of 2017, focusing on women between 40 and 69 years of age with problems in the menopausal period. Dependency relationships were found between the prevalence of depression and PAL, anxiety and PAL, and SPH with PAL (p < 0.001). Weak inverse correlations were found between PAL and mental health, Coping Success, Self-confidence, and Stress (rho: − 0.214 to − 0.258; p < 0.001). Also, weak and very weak significant inverse correlations were found between PAL and all items of the GHQ-12. Weak inverse correlations were found between PSS scores and mental health, Coping, and Stress (r: −0.201 to − 0.304; p < 0.001). Likewise, weak and very weak inverse correlations, although statistically significant, were found between the PSS scores and the responses to the GHQ-12 items. Very active women with higher PSS have less psychological distress, higher self-esteem, and better prevalence of positive health.

Higher physical activity level and perceived social support is associated with less psychological distress in people with anxiety.

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental illnesses in first world societies, generating discomfort in the people who suffer from it, and high expenses and economic losses in the society. The physical activity (PA) performed, together with the perceived social support (PSS) by people with anxiety could be related to the psychological distress of people with anxiety. To study the relationships between mental health and its dimensions, through Golberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12), and the level of PA (PAL) and the PSS in the Spanish adult population with anxiety. A higher PAL, and a higher PSS, is related to a lower psychological distress in this population. This study included 1,661 adults with anxiety, residents in Spain. It was a cross-sectional study with data obtained from the Spanish National Health Survey. A Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to examine the data distribution of the variables. The median and interquartile range were used to characterize the sample for continuous variables, and absolute and relative frequencies were used for categorical variables. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to examine the differences between sexes. Dependence between PAL and sex was studied using the chi-square statistic. A Krustal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the existence of differences in the baseline medians on the GHQ-12, according to PAL level. Finally, the correlations between mental health and its dimensions with PAL and the Duke-UNC-11 scores were analysed, obtaining Spearman's rho and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Moderate inverse correlations were found between the GHQ-12 and: PAL (rho: -0.219); PSS (r: -0.347). PAL and PSS presented moderate inverse correlations with successful coping (rho: -0.206 and r: -0.325), self-esteem (rho: -0.222 and r: -0.333) and stress (rho: -0.158 and r: -0.288). Greater PAL and social support are associated with reduced psychological distress in people with anxiety.

Moderating effects of perceived social support on self-efficacy and psychological well-being of Chinese nurses: a cross-sectional study.

Nurses experience significant physical and psychological stress that negatively influences their psychological well-being. The objective of this study was to explore the association between self-efficacy and psychological well-being among Chinese nurses and to assess the moderating effects of perceived social support (PSS). In 2020, a hospital-based cross-sectional study using a multistage random sampling approach was performed in five regions of Liaoning, China. Of the 1,200 surveyed nurses, 1,010 completed questionnaires that evaluated the demographic information, 14-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. To examine the factors associated with mental health parameters, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed. The interactions were visualized using a simple slope analysis. The mean depression and anxiety scores for Chinese nurses were 8.74 ± 3.50 and 6.18 ± 3.26, respectively. The association between self-efficacy and depression differed between the low perceived social support (PSS) group (1 SD below the mean, β = -0.169, p < 0.01) and high PSS group (1 SD above the mean, β = -0.077, p < 0.01). Similarly, the association between self-efficacy and anxiety differed between the low PSS group (1 SD below the mean, β = -0.155, p < 0.01) and high PSS group (1 SD above the mean, β = -0.044, p < 0.01). We found that Chinese nurses experienced high levels of anxiety and depression. Furthermore, PSS moderates the relationship between self-efficacy and psychological well-being. Therefore, interventions targeting self-efficacy and PSS should be implemented to improve the psychological well-being of nurses.

Impact of Perceived Social Support on the Association Between Anger Expression and the Risk of Stroke: The Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS).

Anger has been suggested as a risk factor for stroke. Perceived social support (PSS) may relieve anger, thus reducing the risk of stroke; however, evidence supporting this is limited. We aimed to examine whether PSS modifies the risk of stroke associated with anger expression. A cohort study was conducted among 1,806 community residents aged 40-74 years who received a cardiovascular risk survey, including anger expression, in 1997. A Cox proportional hazards model was applied to the participants with low and high PSS to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the risks of total stroke and its subtypes based on total anger expression after adjusting for known stroke risk factors. The median follow-up duration was 18.8 years, with 51 incident strokes. Among the participants with low PSS, anger expression had a positive association with the total stroke risk: The multivariable HR per standard deviation increment of total anger expression was 1.43 (95% CI, 1.13-1.82). In contrast, no association was identified among those with high PSS. The corresponding HR was 0.83 (95% CI, 0.49-1.40), with a significant interaction between low and high PSS (P = 0.037). Similar associations regarding the risk of ischemic stroke were found. We found an increased risk of stroke associated with anger expression among the participants with low PSS, but not among those with high PSS. Our results suggest that PSS might mitigate the risk of stroke associated with anger.

Association between GHQ-12, Duke-UNC-11, Physical Activity, and Self-Perceived Health in Spanish Adults with Cancerous Tumours: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In Spain, people who have overcome some type of cancer have significantly worse self-perceived health (SPH) and higher rates of depression than people who have never suffered any type of cancer. to explore the relationships among physical activity levels (PAL), perceived social support (PSS), and SPH in terms of mental health and its dimensions in Spanish adults with cancerous tumours. A correlational study rooted in the National Health Survey 2017 for adults was carried out, including 627 Spanish residents who reported having malignant tumours. A dependent association was found between PAL and SPH (p &lt; 0.001). The mental health mean score decreased as PAL increased for the total sample and for both sexes, separately (p &lt; 0.001). Low reverse associations were also observed between PAL and mental health (rho: -0.274; p &lt; 0.001), successful coping (rho: -0.239; p &lt; 0.001) and self-confidence (rho: -0.264; p &lt;0.001). Moreover, PSS weakly and inversely correlates with mental health (r: -0.225; p &lt; 0.001), successful coping (r: -0.218; p &lt; 0.001) and self-confidence (r: -0.231; p &lt; 0.001). A binary logistic model showed that active and very active people presented less threat of poor SPH, as did people with higher PSS (p &lt; 0.001). Greater levels of physical activity are associated with larger mean scores in the three dimensions of mental health, perceived social support and self-perceived health in people with cancerous tumours.

Perceived social support and clinical characteristics in males with opioid use disorder on maintenance therapy

ABSTRACT Objective Perceived social support (PSS) is an important factor affecting the treatment outcomes in substance use disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the level of PSS among males with opioid use disorder receiving treatment. Method The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of 70 adult males diagnosed with opioid use disorder on maintenance therapy. Participants completed a semi-structured socio-demographic form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results Levels of PSS among participants were found as follows: 41.4% had low PSS, 47.1% had moderate PSS, and 11.4% had high PSS. 41.4% of the participants had a history of injection opioid use; this group reported significantly lower PSS scores than non-injection opioid users. PSS scores were found to be significantly lower in patients with depressive scores above the cut-off score of BDI. There was a negative correlation between number of relapse and PSS. Conclusion Our findings suggest that males with opioid use disorder in Turkey reported lower PSS and PSS was associated with depressive symptoms and frequency of relapse. Aside from routine pharmacotherapy programs, PSS should be taken into consideration for patients with opioid use disorder and patient-specific strategies should be planned.

Trajectories of Instrumental and Emotional Social Support and the Associated Risk of Mortality in Bereaved Older Adults in Taiwan.

This study identified the trajectories of instrumental and emotional perceived social support (PSS) from 1996 to 2003 and investigated the associated risk of mortality in bereaved older adults in Taiwan. The study analyzed 1,188 bereaved older adults who had experienced loss of a spouse, a child, or both before 1996 from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging. More favorable trajectories of PSS are associated with lower mortality risk in bereaved older adults. Compared with the spousal or dual bereavement, the parental bereavement benefited more from consistently high instrumental PSS. The present study revealed that consistently high emotional PSS had a stronger protective effect on mortality risk for a widow or widower than did consistently high instrumental support. The findings of this study can serve as an empirical reference to inform social policies and clinical practices for bereaved older adults in culturally similar societies.

Moderating effects of social support on the relationship between substance use disorders and HIV viral load and medication adherence among Black women living with HIV in the United States

ABSTRACT Substance use may predict lower rates of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and viral suppression among Black Women Living with HIV (BWLWH). We assessed how perceived social support (PSS) moderates the relationship between substance use disorder (SUD) and viral load (VL) and ART adherence. 119 BWLWH provided information on PSS, SUD, alcohol use disorder (AUD) and adherence (via Wisepill). Higher PSS from friends (β = −.263, p = .008) and significant others (β = −.219, p = .025) predicted lower VL. SUD predicted low Wisepill adherence (a) in the past week (β = −.273, p = .035) and past two weeks (β = −.273, p = .033) only for women low in PSS from friends, and (b) in the past two weeks only for women low in total PSS (β = −.294, p = .024). Ironically, for women high in total PSS, SUD predicted higher adherence in the past four weeks (β = .360, p = .006). Adherence and VL may be bolstered by understanding the role of various forms of PSS and SUDs.

A moderated moderation of living arrangements and social support on the relationship between depressive symptoms and medication adherence in patients with heart failure

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Institute of Nursing Research grant Background Medication adherence is essential to improve health outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Depressive symptoms contribute to decrease adherence behaviors. Although social support is helpful to improving medication adherence, perceived social support (PSS) may differ by living arrangement. How social support and living arrangement contribute to the relationship between depressive symptoms and medication adherence is not well understood in patients with heart failure. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether perceived social support and living arrangement moderated the association between depressive symptoms and medication adherence. Methods This was a secondary analysis from outpatients with HF. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Perceived social support was assessed using Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and patients were grouped into high and low PSS groups using a score of 79, the upper tertile value. Medication adherence was measured objectively by a medication event monitoring system for 3-months. Living arrangement was classified as (1) living with a spouse, (2) living with non-spouse family or friend, or (3) living alone. Moderated moderation analysis was conducted using PROCESS macro (Model 3) in SPSS with 5,000 bootstrap samples. Results Of the total of 208 patients (mean age = 61 ± 11.5 years, 64% male), 60% lived with spouse, 22% lived with non-spousal family or friend, and 26% lived alone. Three-way interaction (depressive symptoms*living arrangement*PSS) was significant (p = 0.0324, Figure 1). The effect of depressive symptoms on medication adherence was only significant for two groups (Figure 2): the living alone group with high PSS (effect = - 4.1855, p = 0.0021), and the living with a non-spousal family group with low PSS (effect = -1.0180, p = 0.0349). For these groups, their depressive symptoms were inversely associated with medication adherence. Conclusions: These results suggest that living arrangement and perceived social support are factors to be considered in medication adherence when planning care for patients with depressive symptoms. Future research is needed to explore whether the combined intervention of improving depressive symptoms and social support focusing on instrumental social support effectively increases medication adherence.

THE ROLE OF PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND PRUDENT DIET INTAKE ON ALLOSTATIC LOAD AMONG OLDER ADULTS

Allostatic load (AL), an index of multisystem physiological dysregulation due to chronic stress, has been identified as a predictor of poor health outcomes in late life. Research suggests that perceived social support (PSS) improves health outcomes by buffering the negative effects of stress on wellbeing and increasing health promoting behaviours including consumption of a healthy prudent diet (i.e., fruits, vegetables, lean meats, nuts, and seeds). Research to date has independently demonstrated that higher PSS and prudent diet intake have an effect on AL. A paucity of research, however, has examined how dietary consumption and PSS interact to effect AL in older adults. The objective of this study was to examine the interaction between PSS and prudent diet pattern on AL in 164 non-demented, community-dwelling older adults (Mage= 68.5(.52), 64% female). PSS and diet intake were measured using the Perceived Social Support Scale and the EPIC-Norfolk Food Frequency Questionnaire, respectively. AL was composed of 16 biomarkers stemming from neuroendocrine, metabolic, inflammatory, and cardiovascular systems, stratified by sex. Controlling for age and usual daily energy intake, higher prudent diet consumption (B=-2.04, p=.001), but not PSS, was associated with lower AL. Moderation analysis revealed that higher prudent diet intake was associated with lower AL only for those with low PSS (B=-.83, p=.0006) and mean level of PSS (B=-.43, p=.02). These findings suggest that chronic biological stress may be mitigated by consuming a healthy diet specifically for older adults with lower social support and may further inform intervention strategies to promote healthy aging.

Rumination and perceived social support from significant others interact to predict eating disorder attitudes and behaviors in university students

Objective University students are at a greater risk for eating disorder attitudes and behaviors (EDAB) compared to the general population. This study examined the roles of rumination and perceived social support (PSS) from three domains in the occurrence of EDAB. Participants: A sample of students (N= 300) attending a rural Midwestern university. Methods: Participants completed online surveys which collected demographic information and assessed eating disorders, rumination, and PSS. Pearson’s correlation and moderated regression were performed for analysis. Results: Of the sample, 63.6% of participants identified as women, 34.8% as men, and 1.7% with another gender. PSS from family and friends was negatively associated with EDAB. Rumination was positively associated with EDAB. High rumination and high PSS from significant others interacted to predict eating, shape, and weight concerns, but not dietary restraint. Conclusions: Findings support incorporating screening tools for PSS and rumination at on-campus counseling sessions to identify students at risk for EDAB.

Alcohol use disorders and its association with family factors among undergraduates of obafemi awolowo university, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Background: Alcohol is a socially acceptable substance that plays a key traditional role in the African setting. Family factors such as dysfunctional family background may increase the risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD) among university students.Objective: This study assessed the prevalence of AUD and its association with family factors among undergraduates of a Nigerian university.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional survey involved 360 consenting undergraduates recruited from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Demographic variables were obtained with a questionnaire, whereas AUD was measured with AUD Identification Test. Family factors assessed were family structure, family socioeconomic status, family functioning, parenting styles and perceived social support (PSS).Results: The mean age of respondents was 21.12 years (standard deviation = 2.37) and 223 (61.9%) were males. The prevalence of AUD was 16.7%. Factors significantly associated with AUD were demographic variables – being male (P < 0.001) and traditional religion (P = 0.024) and family factors – low socioeconomic class (P = 0.023), dysfunctional family (P < 0.001) and father use of alcohol (P = 0.001). Respondents with AUD reported significantly lower mean score on all the PSS subscales: family (P = 0.001), friend (P < 0.001) and significant other (P < 0.001) and authoritative parenting style of father (P < 0.001) and mother (P < 0.001). Predictors of AUD were male sex, father use of alcohol, father authoritative parenting style and high PSS from friends.Conclusion: AUD is prevalent among Nigerian undergraduates with male sex and some family factors associated with it. The results of this study have significant implications for both primary and secondary prevention efforts.

Roles of Mindfulness and Perceived Social Support in Mediating the Effect of Psychological Distress on Sleep Quality of College Students

This paper aims to disclose the role of mindfulness and perceived social support (PSS) in relationship between psychological distress and sleep quality of college students. For this purpose, 480 questionnaires were issued to students from two colleges in Shaanxi, China. 443 (92.29%) of the questionnaires were returned. Then, the respondents were subject to depression anxiety stress survey (DASS-21), five facet mindfulness questionnaire (FFMQ), the PSS scale (PSSS) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). The main conclusions are as follows: 25.5% of college students had sleep problems and the situation was worse for females; psychological distress had a significant effect on sleep quality and mindfulness, while mindfulness acted as a mediator between psychological distress and sleep quality; the PSS regulated the effect of mindfulness on the sleep quality, and mindfulness partially mediated those with low PSS; the mediation effect of mindfulness was insignificant for those with high PSS, and their sleep quality directly hinged on psychological distress. Therefore, the sleep quality among college students can be improved by promoting their mindfulness and PSS. This research provides new insights into the field of sleep quality.

Resilience and perceived social support among school-going adolescents in Mangaluru

Background: Resilience building interventions are gaining popularity, and the same needs to be enforced. However, considering the effectiveness of a programme after a need assessment, understanding the extent of resilience and the related construct of perceived social support (PSS) becomes imperative. Hence, this study aimed at assessing the resilience and PSS among school-going adolescents. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the Perceived Stress, PSS, to understand the gender differences in level of PSS and resilience among school going adolescents in Mangaluru city of Southern India. Materials and Methods: A cross- sectional descriptive research design was used. School-going adolescents from grades 8–10th of the four schools of Mangaluru city were selected through convenient sampling (n = 206). Data were collected through self-administered scales. Descriptive statistics and t-test were applied. Results: The mean age of the study sample was 14.10 (±0.896) years. Adolescents had mild level of perceived stress, high PSS, and moderate resilience. Significant difference was noted between boys and girls in the global PSS and PSS from friends and significant others and resilience. Conclusions: The moderate resilience highlights the scope for resilience building programmes in schools of Mangaluru. Furthermore, the gender differences in the measured competencies indicate the need to develop gender-specific intervention packages.

An assessment of the levels of perceived social support among older adults living with HIV and AIDS in Dublin.

Objectives To determine the level of perceived social support among older adults living with HIV and AIDS in Dublin.MethodsThe study utilized a cross-sectional survey design to collect data from 46 adults aged 50 years or older who are members of open heart house (OHH) in Ireland, a peer support network for people living with HIV and AIDS. Participants completed a set of interviewer-assisted questionnaires, which included the multidimensional measure of perceived social support (PSS) to assess the level of social support.ResultsLevels of PSS among participants were observed as follows: 54 % had low PSS, 33 % had a moderate PSS and 13 % had high PSS. A fifth of the study participants had a history of injection drug use (IDU) and this group reported higher PSS scores in general than non-IDU’s (H = 79.500, Z = −2.678, p = 0.006). PSS scores were observed to be higher in general among participants with longer duration of infection [H(2) = 7.856, p = 0.020].ConclusionDespite its limitations, this study provides vital information about the level of social support among older people living with HIV and AIDS at OHH Dublin. An unexpected but interesting finding was the positive relationship between IDU and PSS level. Formulation of strategies to enable older PLHA to be more proactive members of their community through a peer support network sponsored volunteer services should be encouraged.

Perceived social support in Chinese parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a Chinese context: Implications for social work practice

ABSTRACTThis article reports the results of a Hong Kong study (no. of parents = 121) which identified perceived social support (PSS), both overall and four types of support, of Chinese parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and examined the impact of PSS on the interrelationship between the ADHD symptoms and parenting stress. The parents perceived support of their primary social network as more satisfactory than professionals’. Parenting stress of the high PSS group was lower than the low PSS group’s. The PSS-overall, parenting role, and the ADHD symptoms explained a significant variance of parenting stress. The results pave the way to develop a complex social work model in helping.

Social Support and Depressive Symptoms Predict Adherence To Iron And Folic Acid Supplements Among Pregnant Women In Rural Zimbabwe

Prenatal iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements reduce low birth weight and maternal anemia, a risk factor for maternal mortality. However, many women who receive IFA through antenatal care (ANC) do not adhere to the recommended doses. We tested the hypotheses that depressive symptoms (DS), perceived social support (PSS) and perceived physical health (PPH) are associated with IFA adherence. Participants were 1760 pregnant women in rural Zimbabwe and enrolled in the SHINE trial. We assessed DS, PSS and PPH at enrolment (&lt;24 weeks gestation) and advised women to seek ANC. IFA adherence (&gt;5 pills/wk) was measured in the 3rd trimester by 7‐day recall. At this visit, 1693 (96.5%) women had attended ANC and 1461 (83%) received IFA. We used separate logistic regression models to explore associations between IFA adherence and each of the psychosocial factors, controlling for education, economic status, HIV status and parity. The causal steps approach was used to test possible mediation. On average, women took IFA 5.4 times/wk, and 67.3% took &gt;5 pills in the past week. Women with higher PSS were more likely to adhere (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.04‐1.64) and those with higher levels of DS were less likely to adhere (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.70‐0.96). DS mediated the link between PSS and IFA adherence, and similarly PSS mediated the link between DS and IFA adherence. PPH was not associated with adherence. Social support and mental health are modifiable correlates of IFA adherence in Zimbabwean women. Efforts to improve the psychosocial context of pregnant women could strengthen IFA interventions.

Perceived social support and the psychological well-being of AIDS orphans in urban Kenya

Parental deaths due to AIDS seriously affect the psychological well-being of children. Social support may provide an effective resource in the care of vulnerable children in resource-limited settings. However, few studies have examined the relationships between social support and psychological well-being among AIDS orphans. This cross-sectional study was conducted to explore associations between perceived social support (PSS) and the psychological well-being of AIDS orphans, and to identify socio-demographic factors that are associated with PSS. Data were collected from 398 pairs of AIDS orphans (aged 10–18 years) and their caregivers in Nairobi, Kenya. The participants provided information on their socio-demographic characteristics, the children's PSS, and the children's psychological status (based on measures of depressive symptoms and self-esteem). Of the 398 pairs, 327 were included in the analysis. PSS scores of AIDS orphans showed significant correlations with depressive symptoms (ρ =−0.31, p<0.001) and self-esteem (ρ=0.32, p<0.001). Socio-demographic factors, such as HIV-positive status of children (β=3.714, p=0.014) and cohabitation with siblings (β=3.044, p=0.016), were also associated with higher PSS scores. In particular, HIV-infected children (n=37) had higher scores of PSS from a special person (β=2.208, p=0.004), and children living with biological siblings (n=269) also had higher scores of PSS from both a special person (β=1.411, p=0.029) and friends (β=1.276, p=0.039). In conclusion, this study showed that PSS is positively associated with the psychological well-being of AIDS orphans. Siblings and special persons can be effective sources of social support for AIDS orphans, which help to promote their psychological well-being.

Depressive symptoms and poor social support have a synergistic effect on event-free survival in patients with heart failure

Background Depressive symptoms and poor social support are predictors of increased morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the combined contribution of depressive symptoms and social support event-free survival of patients with HF has not been examined. Objective To compare event-free survival in 4 groups of patients with HF stratified by depressive symptoms and perceived social support (PSS). Method A total of 220 patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale and were followed for up to 4 years to collect data on death and hospitalizations. Results Depressive symptoms (hazard ratio = 1.73, P = .008) and PSS (hazard ratio = 1.51, P = .048) were independent predictors of event-free survival. Depressed patients with low PSS had 2.1 times higher risk of events than non-depressed patients with high PSS ( P = .003). Conclusion Depressive symptoms and poor social support had a negative additive effect on event-free survival in patients with HF.