High Social Support Group Research Articles

Effect of social support on coping style and life quality of patients with traumatic paraplegia

Objective To investigate the impact of social support on coping style and life quality of patients with traumatic paraplegia. Methods According to social support rating scale (SSRS), 60 cases were divided into two groups: low social support group (total social support score lower than 35) and high social support group (total social support score higher than 45). Scores of WOCS and WHOQCL-BREF were compared between the two groups and correlation analysis was conducted. Results Average scores of SSRS, subjective support, objective support and support utilization of the 60 cases were (38.28 ± 4.92), (23.28 ± 5.21),(11.22 ±3.16) and (8.54 ± 1.97), respectively. There were 22 cases lower than 35 points (low score group), 17 cases higher than 45 points (high score group), and 21cases between 35 and 45 points. Scores of physiological, psychological, social relations and environment dimension of the high social support group was significantly higher than those of the low social support group, and there was significant difference(P <0. 05 or P <0. 01). Conclusions The degree of social support has an important impact on coping style and life quality of traumatic paraplegia patients. Well social support helps patients take active behaviors and improve the quality of life. Key words: Paraplegia; Social support; Coping style; Life quality

The role of social support and social networks in smoking behavior among middle and older aged people in rural areas of South Korea: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundAlthough the number of studies on anti-smoking interventions has increased, studies focused on identifying social contextual factors in rural areas are scarce. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of social support and social networks in smoking behavior among middle and older aged people living in rural areas of South Korea.MethodsThe study employed a cross-sectional design. Participants included 1,057 adults, with a mean age of 60.7 years, residing in rural areas. Information on participants' tobacco use, stress, social support, and social networks was collected using structured questionnaires. The chi-square test, the t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression were used for data analysis.ResultsThe overall smoking prevalence in the study was 17.4% (men, 38.8%; women, 5.1%). Overall, stress was high among women, and social support was high among men. Smokers had high levels of social support (t = -2.90, p = .0038) and social networks (t = -2.22, p = .0271), as compared to non- and former smokers. Those in the high social support group were likely to be smokers (AOR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.15-4.26). Women with moderate social ties were less likely to smoke (AOR = 0.18, 95% CI 0.05-0.61).ConclusionThere was a protective role of a moderate social network level among women, and a high level of social support was associated with smoking behaviors in rural areas. Findings suggest the need for a comprehensive understanding of the functions and characteristics of social contextual factors including social support and social networks in order to conduct more effective anti-smoking interventions in rural areas.

Alcohol Consumption, Social Support, and Risk of Stroke and Coronary Heart Disease Among Japanese Men: The JPHC Study

It is unclear whether the association between alcohol consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease is affected by social support. The prospective data for 19,356 men aged 40 to 69 years who participated in the Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study. Alcohol consumption was classified into 7 categories: never, past, occasional, 1 to 149, 150 to 299, 300 to 449, or > or =450 g ethanol/wk. Associations between alcohol consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease were stratified by the median level of social support score, which was measured in emotional support score of this cohort study. During an average follow-up of 9.9 years, 629 total strokes and 207 coronary heart diseases were documented. Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption was associated with reduced risks of coronary heart disease and total cardiovascular disease, while heavy alcohol consumption was associated with increased risk of total stroke, in particular hemorrhagic stroke. When stratified by social support score, the multivariable hazard ratios of total cardiovascular disease associated with light-to-moderate alcohol consumption (1 to 299 g/wk) were 0.99 (0.72 to 1.37) in the low social support group and 0.56 (0.44 to 0.70) in the high social support group (p for interaction = 0.002), while the multivariable hazard ratios of hemorrhagic stroke associated with heavy alcohol consumption (> or =300 g/wk) were 2.09 (1.03 to 4.27) in the low social support group and 1.25 (0.72 to 2.15) in the high social support group (p for interaction = 0.44). There was no interaction between alcohol consumption and social support in relation to risk of coronary heart disease. Social support may enhance the beneficial effect of light-to-moderate alcohol consumption on risk of cardiovascular disease.

The Role of Social Support and Age in Emotional Life Adaptation among Widows in the University Setting in Nigeria.

The study investigated the role of social support and age in emotional life adaptation among widows. Two hundred and eighty two subjects comprising 137 widows and 145 non-widows (control group) all drawn from Nigerian Universities participated in the study. The widowed subjects consisted of younger widows (18 – 37 years old) and older widows (40 – 50 years old). They were further classified into high and low social support groups. Based on their scores and the social support questionnaire and the emotional adaptation questionnaire, the hypotheses were tested, non-widows reported significantly superior or have higher level of emotional adaptation than widows. Widows that are low in social support reported significantly showed lower level of emotional adaptation than widows high in social support. And younger widows reported significantly poorer or showed lower level of emotional adaptation than older widows. The findings were discussed some implications of the finding were highlighted and suggestions made.LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research Vol. 5 2008: pp. 61-71

The role of functional social support in treatment retention and outcomes among outpatient adult substance abusers

The goals of this study were: (1) to compare patients with high and low functional social support at intake and 6 months later on various risk factors; (2) to test the stress-buffering role of functional social support on treatment outcomes, and (3) to determine whether levels of functional social support at intake predicted treatment retention. Consecutive admissions to an outpatient treatment program were assessed at intake (n = 206) and at 6 month follow-up (n = 172) using the Addition Severity Index (ASI). Patients completed questionnaires pertaining to social support, stress and psychological functioning both at intake and at 6 months. Both high and low social support groups experienced marked declines in negative affect and in the severity of substance abuse over time. There were some group differences: for example, symptoms of depression and psychological distress were higher among patients with low social support at intake and at 6 months. Patients with low social support at intake reported higher severity of alcohol and drug abuse at 6 months. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that functional social support was a modest predictor of reductions in the severity of alcohol abuse at follow-up, after controlling for the number of days in treatment. Higher levels of social support explained a modest (6%) proportion of the variance in alcohol-related outcomes, but did not predict reductions in drug abuse. Survival analysis demonstrated that the rate of dropping out of treatment was significantly higher for patients with low social support. Higher functional social support at intake is a positive predictor of retention in treatment, and a modest predictor of reductions in alcohol intake, but not in drug use. Overall, social support accounts for a small percentage of the variance in drug/alcohol-related outcomes, underscoring the need for further research into variables accounting for treatment success and failure.

Stress, social support and cardiovascular activity over the working day

The influence of stress on ambulatory blood pressure monitored over the working day, and the potential buffering effect of social support, was assessed in 104 school teachers (37 men and 67 women). Blood pressure and heart rate were measured every 20 min and energy expenditure was assessed using accelerometers. Participants rated the degree of stress they were experiencing at the time of each measurement on a seven-point scale. Episodes of both high and low stress during the working day were reported by 62 participants. They were divided by median split into high and low social support groups on the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List. After controlling for body mass and concomitant energy expenditure, high stress was associated with increased systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. However, the impact of stress was buffered by social support, with no significant increase in blood pressure or heart rate with stress in the high support group. The accelerometers were also shown effectively to discriminate between blood pressure readings taken in the seated and standing positions in terms of energy expenditure. The results corroborate laboratory studies, in showing that social support buffers the impact of episodic stress on cardiovascular activity under naturalistic conditions during the working day.

Locus of control, social support, and adherence to the diabetes regimen.

There is a need to better understand how psychosocial factors influence regimen adherence behavior. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the ability of internal diabetes locus of control and social support to predict adherence to a weight-control regimen among persons with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). A community-based sample of 465 patients with NIDDM was interviewed. Regression analyses revealed that internal locus of control and social support were modest but statistically significant predictors. Correlation analyses showed that internal locus of control was not related to weight control in the high social support group. In the low social support group, a stronger internal locus of control was not associated with weight management. The ways in which internal locus of control and social support work together were not clear. The findings suggest that these two factors are advantageous for promoting regimen adherence.

Life Stress and Social Support in Diabetes: Association with Glycemic Control

The interrelationship of life stress, social support, and glucose regulation was studied in eighty patients with diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent = 40, non-insulin-dependent = 40). Glucose control was measured using glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1); stress and social support were determined by the Social Readjustment Rating Scale and a Visual Analog Scale of social support. A two-way analysis of variance [social support (high/low) by life stress (high/low)] revealed that neither social support nor life stress was independently associated with HbA1. However, a significant interaction between these parameters was found. When reported stress was low, the HbA1 means were not statistically different for both high and low social support groups. As stress increased, variations in social support were associated with differences in glucose control. Under conditions of high stress, low social support subjects had significantly higher HbA1 than subjects with high social support (mean = 11.8% vs. mean = 9.9%, p = .04). These data suggest that during stressful times social support may insulate patients with diabetes from the adverse physiologic and behavioral consequences of stress and thereby foster better glucose control.

Social support and pain behavior

Research has shown that social support is generally associated with better adaptation to chronic disease. However, the role that social support plays in adjustment to chronic pain syndromes has received less research attention. The present study was designed to examine the relation of high versus low levels of social support to pain behavior in chronic pain patients. Fifty-one patients with chronic pain completed the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ) and the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Patients were also observed using a standard observation system to assess pain behaviors. In order to compare pain behaviors displayed by subjects with high versus low levels of social support, a median split was performed on the 2 dimensions of the SSQ: (1) satisfaction with support and (2) availability of people for support. The results indicated that pain behavior varied as a function of level of satisfaction with social support. Individuals reporting high satisfaction with social support exhibited significantly higher levels of total pain behavior and higher levels of individual pain behaviors such as guarding, rubbing and bracing. There was no significant difference in total pain behaviors between those high versus low in terms of level of availability of support. There also were no differences between high versus low social support groups in total pain ratings as measured by the McGill Pain Questionnaire. The results are discussed in terms of an operant conditioning perspective on social support. Individuals who are satisfied with the quality of their social support may be satisfied because they receive positive reinforcement from the social environment when they engage in pain behavior.

Evaluating the mediating effects of social support upon life events and depressive symptoms.

Previous research has yielded inconsistent results regarding the mediating effects of social support upon psychiatric illness. Using data (N = 2029) gathered as part of a major epidemiologic study in the southeastern United States, the authors examine the relationships among depressive symptoms, social support, stressful life events, and socioeconomic status. As anticipated, direct effects were found for social support, stressful life events, and socioeconomic status upon depressive symptoms. However, when the data were analyzed via three-way analysis of variance and multiple regression (including all possible interaction terms) analysis, no statistically significant interactive effects were found. The authors conclude that these findings clearly demonstrate direct effects of social support and stressful life events upon depressive symptoms. Respondents in the lower social support groups experience the greatest impact of stressful life events; in contrast, persons in high social support groups, although evidencing increased symptom scores with increasing numbers of life events, experience the buffering effect of social support by showing less severe distress.

The relationship between life change events, social supports, and dysmenorrhea.

A survey of 156 female undergraduate nursing students was conducted to determine the relationship between life change events and dysmenorrhea and the mediating effect of social supports on this relationship. Data were collected using the Anderson College Schedule of Recent Experience (subjects estimated personal readjustment to life changes), the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, and a social support index constructed by the authors. Correlations were obtained separately for high and low social support groups; these ranged from .19 to .62 and were significant (p less than .05) for both groups. Presence or absence of a confidant was the most discriminating social support dimension (r = .32 for those with a confidant and .62 for those without). For subjects using oral contraceptives there was no relationship between life change and dysmenorrhea, while users of other contraceptives showed a significant positive relationship (p less than .05). Life change and social supports together accounted for only 16% of the variance in menstrual distress scores. Methodological difficulties in using the life change and social support tools were identified.