Higher Levels Of Social Support Research Articles

The interaction effect of high social support and resilience on functional connectivity using seed-based resting-state assessed by 7-Tesla ultra-high field MRI

Recent resilience research has increasingly emphasized the importance of focusing on investigating the protective factors in mentally healthy populations, complementing the traditional focus on psychopathology. Social support has emerged as a crucial element within the complex interplay of individual and socio-environmental factors that shape resilience. However, the neural underpinnings of the relationship between social support and resilience, particularly in healthy subjects, remain largely unexplored. With advances in neuroimaging techniques, such as ultra-high field MRI at 7T and beyond, researchers can more effectively investigate the neural mechanisms underlying these factors. Thus, our study employed ultra-high field rs-fMRI to explore how social support moderates the relationship between psychological resilience and functional connectivity in a healthy cohort. We hypothesized that enhanced social support would amplify resilience-associated connectivity within neural circuits essential for emotional regulation, cognitive processing, and adaptive problem-solving, signifying a synergistic interaction where strong social networks bolster the neural underpinnings of resilience. (n = 30). Through seed-based functional connectivity analyses and interaction analysis, we aimed to uncover the neural correlates at the interplay of social support and resilience. Our findings indicate that perceived social support significantly (p<0.001) alters functional connectivity in the right and left FP, PCC, and left hippocampus, affirming the pivotal roles of these regions in the brain’s resilience network. Moreover, we identified significant moderation effects of social support across various brain regions, each showing unique connectivity patterns. Specifically, the right FP demonstrated a significant interaction effect where high social support levels were linked to increased connectivity with regions involved in socio-cognitive processing, while low social support showed opposite effects. Similar patterns by social support levels were observed in the left FP, with connectivity changes in clusters associated with emotional regulation and cognitive functions. The PCC’s connectivity was distinctly influenced by support levels, elucidating its role in emotional and social cognition. Interestingly, the connectivity of the left hippocampus was not significantly impacted by social support levels, indicating a unique pattern within this region. These insights highlight the importance of high social support levels in enhancing the neural foundations of resilience and fostering adaptive neurological responses to environmental challenges.

Social relationships and their impact on health-related quality of life in a long-term breast cancer survivor cohort.

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become increasingly important for breast cancer survivors, but clinically relevant declines often persist for many years after treatment. This study aimed to investigate whether social relationships can mitigate or prevent this decline in HRQOL. Data were used from the German population-based Mamma Carcinoma Risk Factor Investigation (MARIE) cohort of 2022 breast cancer cases with follow-up information for more than 15 years after diagnosis. Correlations between social integration, social support, and global health status (GHS) as an overall measure of HRQOL were analyzed, and linear regression analysis was performed with structural equation modeling. The majority of participants reported high levels of social integration and social support and moderate levels of GHS. Social integration 5 years after diagnosis was associated with GHS 5 years after diagnosis (β=1.12; 95% CI,0.25-1.99), but no longitudinal effects were found. Social support 5 years after diagnosis was associated with better GHS 5 years (β=0.42; 95% CI,0.36-0.48) and 10 years after diagnosis (β=0.12; 95% CI,0.02-0.22), whereas social support 10 years after diagnosis was associated with GHS 10 years (β=0.29; 95% CI,0.20-0.39) and 15 years after diagnosis (β=0.10; 95% CI,0.01-0.21). These results confirm that social relationships positively influence HRQOL in long-term breast cancer survivors and that their association should receive more attention clinically and beyond routine care.

The role of moral disengagement and classroom collective efficacy in social support and bystander behavior of elementary school students: A multilevel moderated mediation analysis.

Few studies have examined the process of the relationship between social support and bystander behavior, and previous research has primarily focused on individual- or group-level correlates of bystander behavior without a full understanding of these correlates and their interactions. To address this research gap, the present study examined whether social support and moral disengagement at the individual level, as well as collective efficacy at the classroom level, were associated with bystander behavior in school bullying situations. Questionnaires were administered to 1,310 elementary school students in Grades 4-6 (Mage = 10.97 ± 0.98 years) from 61 classes in the Zhejiang Province of China. Multilevel moderated mediation analyses revealed that higher levels of social support were directly related to more defender behavior and less reinforcer and outsider behavior, and social support was also related to bystander behavior through the indirect role of moral disengagement. In classrooms with higher levels of collective efficacy to stop peer bullying, students tended to show more defender behavior and less outsider behavior. Higher levels of classroom collective efficacy did not moderate the relationship between moral disengagement and defender behavior, although it did inhibit the reinforcer and outsider behaviors of those with high levels of moral disengagement. This study sheds light on the relationship between multiple factors and bystander behavior at both the individual and classroom levels and contributes to the understanding of school bullying in the context of peer group interactions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A Comparative Study of Prevalence and Associated Factors of Social Support Among Chinese Shidu Parents and Non-Shidu Parents.

The number of parents in China who have lost their only child, referred to as shidu parents, currently exceeds one million and is increasing by approximately 76,000 annually. Shidu parents face a unique challenge in long-term care, primarily stemming from the sudden and tragic loss of their only child, which leads to a substantial decrease in their social support network. A multi-stage, stratified, and cluster sampling method was employed across various economic belts. Linear regression analysis was utilized to examine factors associated with the social support status of shidu and non-shidu parents. The level of social support decreases as the severity of depression increases. Shidu parents with grandchildren tend to have good social support. The city of Hangzhou exhibits relatively high levels of social support. Married individuals typically report higher levels of social support. It is recommended to prioritize shidu parents without grandchildren as a primary focus for government and societal support. Key recommendations include strengthening social skills training and developing social support networks. Drive economic development, particularly in relatively underdeveloped regions. Strengthen social organizations and community development. Enhancing access to support services, leveraging technology, and encouraging volunteerism for non-married parents.

Elder mistreatment and psychological resilience: the moderating role of social support

ABSTRACT This study examines the possible consequence of elder mistreatment on resilience and whether social support moderates this posited association, using a rural sample of 432 community-dwelling older Chinese adults aged 60 to 79 years. Elder abuse included verbal abuse, physical abuse, or financial exploitation. Social support was measured by The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Resilience was represented by a seven-item scale. Hierarchical regression models indicated that mistreatment is significantly related to low levels of resilience when confounding factors are adjusted. A significant interaction term (abuse × social support) was also detected. Mistreated respondents who reported higher levels of social support were less likely to experience low resilience compared to those with lower levels of social support. Social support buffers against the undesirable effect of mistreatment on resilience, especially for those who were abused.

The role of housing stability in predicting social capital: Exploring social support and psychological integration as mediators for individuals with histories of homelessness and vulnerable housing.

Social capital is a collective asset important for individual and population well-being. Individuals who experience homelessness may face barriers in accessing social capital due to health challenges, small social networks, and social exclusion. Data from a 4-year longitudinal study was used to determine if housing stability predicted greater social capital and if this relationship was mediated by social support and psychological integration for a sample of 855 homeless and vulnerably housed participants living in three Canadian cities. Findings showed that housing stability was not associated with trust and linking social capital. However, higher levels of social support and psychological integration had a mediating effect on the association between housing stability and trust and linking social capital. These findings highlight the importance of social support and psychological integration as means of promoting social capital for people who experience homelessness and vulnerable housing. Social interventions for housed individuals with histories of homelessness may be an avenue to foster greater social capital by building relationships with neighbors and connections to community resources and activities.

Job and off‐job crafting profiles: Time‐lagged relationships with job, home and personal resources and well‐being outcomes

AbstractCrafting research has often focused solely on the work domain or examined work and non‐work life domains separately, using a variable‐centered approach. Little is known about the interactions of crafting processes in the work and non‐work domain. In this time‐lagged study, we examined (1) the relationship between job and off‐job crafting behaviours using a person‐centered approach to identify crafting profiles, (2) whether job, home and personal resources differentially predicted these profiles and (3) whether these profiles differed in relation to outcomes, that is work engagement and mental well‐being. We conducted a three‐wave, time‐lagged survey with 3‐month intervals among 2125 employees. The results revealed three profiles of active (18.0%), average (48.2%) and least active (33.9%) crafters. Analyses of predictors showed that active crafters had higher levels of home developmental possibilities and self‐efficacy than average and least active crafters, likewise for average crafters compared with least active crafters. Furthermore, active crafters had higher levels of social support at home than least active crafters. Regarding well‐being outcomes, active crafters experienced significantly higher mental well‐being than average and least active crafters and higher work engagement than least active crafters. Interventions to enhance employee's resources could stimulate crafting behaviours, ultimately improving well‐being.

Unfolding of maternal-infant bonding amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: Social support as a risk and protective factor.

Social, familial, and physiological stressors may put maternal-infant bonding at risk. Therefore, it is plausible that the stressful conditions brought on by COVID-19 could influence maternal-infant bonding. This study aimed to elucidate the contribution of COVID-19-related experience to variance in maternal-infant bonding, beyond that of established risk factors and as moderated by social support. This longitudinal, multicenter study examined the relationship of demographic and obstetric variables, social support, postpartum depression, as well as COVID-19-related fear, exposure, and subjective difficulty with mother-infant bonding six months following birth. Participants (N = 246) were women who delivered during the pandemics' strict lockdown period and were recruited 10 weeks after a liveborn delivery and followed up six months later. Relationship between fear of COVID-19 and maternal-infant bonding was moderated by social support: Amongst mothers with high levels of social support, fear of COVID-19 negatively predicted bonding. Results indicate that social support, while overall a protective factor for mother-infant bonding, may lose its buffering effect when fear of COVID-19 is high. This relationship was maintained even when early bonding experiences such as forced separation and the risk incurred by postpartum depression were accounted for. Implications for providers are discussed.

Problem Gambling and Suicidal Behaviours in Young Adult men in Ghana: A Moderated Mediation Model of Psychological Distress and Social Support : Journal of Gambling Studies.

Problem gambling has been recognised as an important public health issue because of its harmful consequences at the personal, interpersonal, and societal levels. There is a proliferation of gambling activities in Ghana owing to increased access to the internet, soaring smartphone penetration, and an influx of sports betting companies. Yet, very little research has addressed the harm associated with problem gambling in Ghana. This study assessed if the effect of problem gambling severity on suicidal behaviours (ideation, planning, and attempts) through psychological distress is contingent on the level of perceived social support. A total of 350 young adult men in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana provided the data for the current analysis. The data were analysed using a moderated mediation approach. The results showed that psychological distress is an important intervening mechanism through which problem gambling severity influences suicidality. In addition, the positive association between psychological distress and suicidal behaviours was found to be conditional on the levels of perceived social support. In other words, our results showed that problem gambling may first trigger episodes of psychological distress, which, in turn, can lead to suicidality among problem gamblers who report low to moderate levels of perceived social support. Our findings suggest that young adult problem gamblers require higher levels of social support from family, friends, and significant others to prevent those experiencing psychological distress from engaging in suicidal behaviours.

A Half-Day Camp Program for Adolescents Affected by Childhood Cancer

Background:Adolescents affected by childhood cancer experience various degrees of psychosocial distress, social isolation, and social support throughout the treatment process.Objective:To create and implement an evidence-based practice project consisting of a pilot half-day camp program to improve social support and connectedness for adolescents affected by childhood cancer.Methods:A pilot half-day camp program was implemented. Twenty adolescent patients, survivors, and siblings (ages 13–18 years) participated in the program. Participants provided basic demographic information and completed pretest, immediate posttest, and 4-week posttest surveys to assess their levels of social support and camp connectedness. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and two-tailed Wilcoxon signed-rank test.Results:All measures of social support in adolescent participants affected by childhood cancer trended upwards following the conclusion of the program, then trended downwards over time, with overall social support and family social support significantly decreasing over time postintervention. Camp connectedness was not significantly impacted by the program.Conclusions:Social support decreases as participants are further out from attending a half-day camp program. This pilot program demonstrated the feasibility of a short-term, local, cost-effective camp program that is scalable to larger groups.Implications for Nursing:Providers should refer adolescents affected by childhood cancer to camp programs for social support. More research is needed to determine if more frequent camp programs sustain a high level of social support in participants.

Coping strategies and psychological distress among mothers during COVID-19 pandemic: The moderating role of social support.

The Indonesian government implemented a large-scale social restriction policy as part of the efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. This policy impacted the population, including mothers, and caused considerable psychological distress. Individual efforts to cope (avoidant and approach coping strategies) and support from significant persons might help handle the distress experienced by mothers. The purpose of this empirical study is to investigate the effect of individual coping strategies on psychological distress and the moderating role of social support among Indonesian mothers. An online survey was administered from 20th to 25th April 2020 to 1534 Indonesian mothers (Mean age 37.12 years; SD 6.63). Brief COPE (28 items), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale/DASS (18 items), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support/MSPSS (12 items) were used to measure coping strategies, psychological distress, and social support, respectively. IBM SPSS 24 software was used to analyze the data. The result showed that moderate and high levels of social support moderated the relationship between approach coping strategies and psychological distress (B = .041, CI .007-.075). When the mother uses approach coping, her psychological distress will decrease further whenever she receives moderate and high level social support. Any level of social support moderated the relationship between avoidant coping and psychological distress (B = -.100, CI -.138-.061). When mother used avoidant coping, her social support at any level served as buffer to her psychological distress. It can be concluded that mothers need to prioritize implementing approach coping strategies to lower their distress. Those who practiced avoidant coping strategies needed social support from their significant persons to decrease their distress.

SELF-CARE MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SUPPORT AMONG PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES ATTENDING SELECTED DIABETES CLINICS IN POKHARA

Background: Social support plays a significant role in determining the self-care management of individuals with diabetes. In the developing countries, the association between two factors has not been adequately explored. This study assessed the level of self-care management and social support among individuals with type 2 diabetes and identify associations between self-care management, social support, and selected variables. Methods: In this multisite cross-sectional study, 158 individuals with type 2 diabetes who attended selected diabetes clinics in Pokhara Nepal, were selected using a nonprobability purposive sampling technique from February 10 to March 10, 2021. Data collection was conducted through interviews using a modified summary of diabetes self-care activities and a multidimensional scale of perceived social support as instruments. A descriptive analysis followed by an inferential statistical test was performed to assess the association between variables. Results: More than half (53.2%) of respondents had satisfactory levels of diabetes self-care management, and most of them received high levels of social support. Levels of self-care management were significantly associated with the levels of social support. Marital status, family income, residency, educational status, disease duration, regular follow-up visits, A1C goal, and co-morbidity were significantly associated with self-care management. Gender, marital status, and follow-up visits were significantly associated with the level of social support. Conclusions: Focusing on enhancing social support, including the self-care management of individuals with diabetes, can force diabetes management more successful. Health professionals should implement programs for individuals with diabetes, including peer support groups, family education, and community-based initiatives.

How and When Resilience can Boost Student Academic Performance: A Weekly Diary Study on the Roles of Self-Regulation Behaviors, Grit, and Social Support

Resilience has been found to have positive impacts on college students’ well-being and mental health. However, we still lack knowledge on how and under what conditions resilience can help to facilitate college students’ academic performance. Based on the conservation of resources theory, this study investigated how resilience could be positively linked to college students’ academic performance through increasing self-regulation behaviors, and to what extent this indirect effect could be strengthened by individual grit and social support. Using 74 Chinese college students with a four-week longitudinal survey (296 observations in total), we confirmed our hypotheses. The results of multilevel moderated mediation showed that weekly self-regulation behaviors mediated the positive relationship between weekly resilience and college students’ weekly academic performance and that this positive indirect effect became stronger for those who had a higher level of grit and perceived a higher level of social support. Further, we found that weekly resilience was also positively related to the next week’s self-regulation behaviors, which in turn, increased next week’s academic performance. Social support can strengthen such a carry-over impact of resilience on next week’s self-regulation behaviors (but not for grit). To conclude, our study uncovered the short-term fluctuations of resilience and its impacts on students’ study outcomes. We highlight the important roles of personal resources (grit) and social resources (social support) that can leverage the positive effects of resilience on students’ weekly basis.

Social Support and Resilience Are Protective Factors against COVID-19 Pandemic Burnout and Job Burnout among Nurses in the Post-COVID-19 Era.

Nurses have experienced several psychological and work-related issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, including pandemic burnout and job burnout. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of social support and resilience on COVID-19 pandemic burnout and job burnout among nurses. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Greece. The study population included 963 nurses. We measured social support, resilience, COVID-19 pandemic burnout, and job burnout with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Brief Resilience Scale, COVID-19 Burnout Scale, and Single-Item Burnout Measure, respectively. Nurses received high levels of social support, while their resilience was moderate. Additionally, nurses experienced moderate levels of COVID-19 burnout and job burnout. Increased social support and increased resilience were associated with reduced COVID-19 pandemic burnout. We found a negative relationship between social support and job burnout. A similar negative relationship was found between resilience and job burnout. Social support and resilience can act as protective factors against COVID-19 pandemic burnout and job burnout among nurses. Policy makers should develop and implement appropriate strategies to improve nurses' social support and resilience since they are the backbone of healthcare systems worldwide.

Job crafting, positive psychological capital, and social support as predictors of job embeddedness on among clinical nurses- a structural model design

BackgroundThis study establishes the relationships among role conflict, positive psychological capital, social support, job crafting, and job embeddedness among clinical nurses. The results are expected to provide a basis for efficient human resource management in hospitals.MethodsConsidering a 15% dropout rate, we distributed 300 copies of our questionnaire, of which 290 were returned. We used 260 responses in the final analysis after excluding 40 responses that were incomplete or showed an identical pattern in the item responses. Participants were clinical nurses with less than one year of experience in general and tertiary general hospitals in G province and D metropolitan city in South Korea. A structured questionnaire was administered from January 10 to February 28, 2022. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 26.0. We assessed the statistical significance using the bootstrapping method.ResultsThe direct and total effects (both β = 0.806, p =.007) of positive psychological capital on job crafting were significant. The direct and total effects (both β = 0.451, p =.004) of social support on job crafting were significant. The direct (γ = 0.292, p =.055), indirect (γ = -. 671, p =.003), and total (γ = − 0.379, p =.008) effects of role conflict on job crafting were significant. The direct (γ = − 0.382, p =.007), indirect (γ = − 0.208 p =.003), and total (γ = − 0.589, p =.006) effects of role conflict on job embeddedness were significant. The direct and total (both β = 0.548, p =.005) effects of job crafting on job embeddedness were significant.ConclusionsNurses’ job embeddedness is directly influenced by their job crafting, which is shaped by high levels of positive psychological capital and social support. When job crafting takes place, role conflict increases, and if job crafting becomes difficult because of severe role conflict, job embeddedness decreases. Therefore, to increase job embeddedness among clinical nurses, hospitals must implement support systems and programs to increase job autonomy, and positive psychological capital to promote job crafting.

Mediating role of social support in dysphoria, despondency, and quality of life in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

Dysphoria and despondency are prevalent psychological issues in patients undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis (MHD) that significantly affect their quality of life (QOL). High levels of social support can significantly improve the physical and mental well-being of patients undergoing MHD. Currently, there is limited research on how social support mediates the relationship between dysphoria, despondency, and overall QOL in patients undergoing MHD. It is imperative to investigate this mediating effect to mitigate dysphoria and despondency in patients undergoing MHD, ultimately enhancing their overall QOL. To investigate the mediating role of social support in relationships between dysphoria, despondency, and QOL among patients undergoing MHD. Participants comprised 289 patients undergoing MHD, who were selected using a random sampling approach. The Social Support Rating Scale, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, and QOL Scale were administered. Correlation analysis was performed to examine the associations between social support, dysphoria, despondency, and QOL in patients undergoing MHD. To assess the mediating impact of social support on dysphoria, despondency, and QOL in patients undergoing MHD, a bootstrap method was applied. Significant correlations among social support, dysphoria, despondency, and quality in patients undergoing MHD were observed (all P < 0.01). Dysphoria and despondency negatively correlated with social support and QOL (P < 0.01). Dysphoria and despondency had negative predictive impacts on the QOL of patients undergoing MHD (P < 0.05). The direct effect of dysphoria on QOL was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Social support mediated the relationship between dysphoria and QOL, and this mediating effect was significant (P < 0.05). Similarly, the direct effect of despondency on QOL was significant (P < 0.05). Moreover, social support played a mediating role between despondency and QOL, with a significant mediating effect (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that social support plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between dysphoria, despondency, and QOL in patients undergoing MHD.

Social support in older adults: Validation and norm values of a brief form of the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (F-SozU K-6).

Social relations are crucial for maintaining physical and mental health across the life span. As social roles, networks and needs change with age a valid assessment of social support in older adults and age-specific norms are necessary. The present work aims to [1) assess the level of social support in individuals > 60 years of the general German population, [2) evaluate the brief six-item form of the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (F-SozU K-6) in this age group and to [3) provide age-specific norm values. We analyze data of N = 706 people representative for the German population collected in 2021. To assess social support, we used the F-SozU K-6. We tested for selectivity, item difficulty, internal consistency, construct and factor validity, as well as factorial invariance. Additionally, we assessed correlations and associations with depression, loneliness, and sociodemographic factors. Furthermore, we reported norm values for respondents > 60 years. Participants > 60 years reported a mean level of 23.97 (SD = 4.82) of social support. Results of the CFA confirmed a very good model fit. Measurement invariance across sex and age was shown. Associations with ADS and LS-S supported construct validity. Multiple regression analysis showed that female sex, increasing age, having a partner, and a higher equivalized household income were associated with higher levels of social support. The F-SozU K-6 is a reliable and economical tool to assess perceived social support in older adults. Norm values for individual > 60 years are provided.

Social network tie functions of social support and social influence and adult smoking abstinence.

Adults' social network ties serve multiple functions and play prominently in quitting smoking. We examined three types of adults' egocentric social networks, including family, friends, and friends online to investigate how two network characteristics with major relevance to health behavior, network size and tie closeness, related to the emotional and confidant support and to pro- and anti-smoking social influence these ties may transmit. We also examine whether the social support and social influence constructs related to smoking abstinence. We utilized baseline and 7-day abstinence survey data from 123 adult current smokers attempting to quit prior to the start of a randomized controlled quit-smoking trial of a social support intervention for quitting smoking on Twitter. To examine study relationships, we estimated Negative Binomial Regression models and Logistic Regression models. For all networks, network size and tie closeness related positively to most of the social support and social influence constructs, with tie closeness related most strongly, especially for online friends. Family pro-smoking social influence related negatively to smoking abstinence, and there were marginally negative relationships for family emotional support and family confidant support. Online friend emotional support had a marginally positive relationship with smoking abstinence. Overall, our findings indicated the importance of the social support and social influence functions of each type of network tie, with larger networks and closer ties related to higher levels of social support and social influence. Moreover, family network pro-smoking social influence may compromise abstinence while emotional support from online friend network ties may reinforce it.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORK DEMANDS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT ON WORK STRESS DURING THE PANDEMIC

Background: Stress is the effect of competition and high professional demands in the workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Agency (UPT Keselamatan Kerja) is a technical implementation unit with responsibilities and functions in occupational hygiene, health, and safety. The proliferation of COVID-19 in numerous regions has repercussions for all sectors of society, including agency employees. Those still employed are required to adjust to new conditions. Purpose: Analyse the effect of work demands and social support on work stress among UPT Keselamatan Kerja Surabaya employees during the pandemic. Method: The research was conducted on contract and permanent employees (civil servants), which were divided into three distinct work units: the Safety Training Section Corporate Hygiene and Occupational Safety, the Administration Section, the Testing and Inspection Section. This study employed a quantitative approach. The data were collected using observation. Result: The findings of the study indicated that: 1) UPT Keselamatan Kerja Surabaya employees fell into elevated work demands, 2) UPT Keselamatan Kerja Surabaya employees obtained a high level of social support, 3) Work demands and social support simultaneously affected employees’ work stress at UPT Keselamatan Kerja Surabaya. Conclusion: Social support affected work stress among UPT Keselamatan Kerja Surabaya employees with a significance value of 0.004. Work demands and social support concurrently affected the stress experienced by UPT Keselamatan Kerja Surabaya employees.

Factors associated with loneliness in middle-aged and older patients with breast cancer

ObjectiveLoneliness is associated with adverse mental and physical health conditions and increased mortality. In this study, we identified significant factors associated with loneliness in middle-aged and older patients with breast cancer (BC). MethodsFor this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 200 patients (aged from 20 to 60 years) with BC from two hospitals in Indonesia through convenience sampling. Demographic characteristics, distress symptoms (Symptom Distress Scale), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), frailty (Groningen Frailty Indicator), and loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale, version 3) were measured. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify significant factors associated with loneliness in our cohort. ResultsLoneliness risk was negatively correlated with social support but positively correlated with unemployment and frailty. Thus, the patients received a high level of social support (odds ratio [OR]: 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92–0.99) and had a low risk of severe loneliness. By contrast, patients who were unemployed (OR: 4.00; 95% CI: 1.65–9.66) and those who had frailty (OR: 5.79; 95% CI: 2.50–13.42) had an elevated risk of severe loneliness. ConclusionsUnemployment, social support, and frailty may significantly influence the risk of loneliness in patients with BC. Early and regular assessments of loneliness should be integrated in the care of these patients. Suitable strategies aimed at increasing social support and mitigating frailty may benefit middle-aged and older patients with BC, particularly unemployed patients, by reducing their risk of loneliness.