Informal Social Support Networks Research Articles

Factors affecting parental role adaptation in parents of preterm infants after discharge: a cross-sectional study.

Parenting a preterm infant can be incredibly challenging and stressful, particularly in the first year after discharge. Desirable parental role adaptation leads to appropriate parenting behaviors and parent-infant interaction, which are essential to child health and development. To investigate the level of parental role adaptation and its influencing factors among parents of preterm infants in the first year after hospital discharge according to Belsky's parenting process model among parents of preterm infants in the first year after hospital discharge. A cross-sectional study design was adopted using convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Parental Role Adaptation Scale (PRAS) in parents with preterm infants, the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), the Coping Adaptation Processing Scale (CAPS-15), and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, Spearman correlation analyses, and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze the data. In total, 300 Chinese parents were included in the analysis. In the multivariate analysis, first-time parent (p = 0.003), master's degree and above (p = 0.042), coping adaptation processing (p = 0.000), residence location (towns: p = 0.019, city: p = 0.028), monthly family income (6000-10,000: p = 0.000, >10,000: p = 0.000), and perceived social support (p = 0.001) were all significant predictors of parental role adaptation and collectively accounted for 56.8% of the variation in parental role adaptation of parents with preterm infants (F = 16.473, p < 0.001). Coping adaptation processing mediated the relationship between perceived social support and parental role adaptation (95% bootstrap CI = 0.022, 0.130). Chinese parents of preterm infants experience a moderate level of parental role adaptation when their child is discharged from the hospital to home. Parents who are not first-time parents, have master's degrees or above, live in towns or cities, have higher coping and adaptation abilities, have high monthly family income, and greater perceived social support have a higher level of parental role adaptation. Healthcare providers should pay more attention to parents with low socioeconomic status and encourage them to improve their coping and adaptation abilities and to utilize their formal and informal social support networks.

Cancer Survivors’ and Care Partners’ Audio Diaries on Stress and Social Support Resources During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ObjectivesTo describe cancer survivors’ and care partners’ perceived stress and social support during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the feasibility of audio diaries for assessing role-related needs and resources. MethodsParticipants (N = 51; n = 28 survivors, n = 23 care partners) recorded three monthly audio diaries reporting stress and support experiences. Diaries were transcribed and content-analyzed using a hybrid approach. Stress-related content was inductively coded, and social support content was deductively coded by type (instrumental, information, emotional, companionship, appraisal; κ = 0.75) then inductively coded. Descriptive statistics summarized sociodemographic data and compared coding frequencies by role. We developed narrative summaries of stress and support categories and selected quotes for contextual detail. ResultsCancer-related stressors were most prevalent (28.8%), followed by work (26.8%), family (23.1%), social isolation (13.4%), and finances (8.0%). While no significant difference in reporting frequency was observed between roles, cancer-related stress was more prevalent for survivors while work-related stress was mentioned more by care partners. Emotional support was the most prevalent support type (32.1%), followed by companionship (25.3%), appraisal (17.9%), instrumental (16.67%), and informational support (8%). Survivors reported more appraisal support than care partners (χ2 = 6.48, df = 1, P = .011) and more support for self-care, while care partners expressed more other-oriented concerns and focused more on managing responsibilities and interactions outside the household. ConclusionsThe pandemic complicated and intensified role-based stressors already present in the survivorship context. Our findings highlight the importance of informal social support networks, particularly when access to formal services is limited, and suggest that audio diaries can be an effective tool for assessing support needs and resources. Implications for Nursing PracticeNurses and healthcare providers should tailor social support assessments to address the distinct support needs and individual resources of cancer survivors and their care partners. This is especially critical in contexts that limit access to care and formal services.

Social Experiences and Health Needs of Patients with Severe Mental Illness and their Caregivers during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain

Background The strict isolation measures for the population imposed by the health authorities caused a prolonged disruption of informal social support networks. Both this new social situation and the decrease in accessibility to health care have generated new needs in people with severe mental illness (SMI) and their caregivers. Objectives This study provides insight into life experiences and health needs of a population with SMI during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. Methods Qualitative design using semi-structured dyadic interviews, conducted from January through December 2022. A purposive sampling of patients with SMI and their caregivers was carried out through key informants in rural and urban localities in southern Spain. Verbatims were identified and classified by triangulation after the evaluation of the interview transcripts. The codes were defined through content analysis using the NVivo software. Results Semi-structured dyadic interviews (21), identifying three main categories: 1. Social isolation: increased, causing greater personal vulnerability, exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms and exhaustion in caregivers. 2. Accessibility to Health Services : decreased with fewer face-to-face consultations, with difficulty in managing urgent situations and telephone attention in decompensated and disabled patients. 3. Continuity of healthcare: decreased with distrust in health professionals due to lack of communication between primary care and the hospital Conclusion COVID-19 confinement exacerbated loneliness and worse health self-perception in SMI people. Greater formal social support was required. GPs role is key to avoiding delays in appointments and lack of coordination between primary and specialised care.

A deathly silence: why has the number of people found decomposed in England and Wales been rising?

The number of deaths occurring in private homes in England and Wales had been rising for years, increasingly rapidly from 2020. Media stories and research linked decomposing bodies found in private homes with pandemic-related social isolation. We aim to explore whether these incidents are one-offs or part of a wider trend. Descriptive analysis of publicly available Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. England and Wales. All residents of England and Wales, 1979 to 2020. Using data from the Office for National Statistics, we calculate European Age Standardised Rates for deaths coded as R98 ('unattended death') and R99 ('other ill-defined and unknown causes of mortality') in the 10th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), and the corresponding codes in ICD-9, by sex and age group from 1979 (when ICD-9 began) to 2020. These are proxy markers for deaths where decomposition precludes attribution of a specific cause at postmortem. While mortality from all other causes decreased from 1979 to 2020, the opposite was seen for deaths from R98 and R99 (or 'undefined deaths'), with men more affected than women. There was a sharp rise in these deaths in both sexes but in men particularly in the 1990s and 2000s, coinciding with a time when overall mortality was rapidly improving. The increase in people found dead from unknown causes suggests wider societal breakdowns of both formal and informal social support networks. They are concerning and warrant urgent further investigation. We call on national and international authorities to consider measures that would make it possible to identify these deaths more easily in routine data.

Gender Differences in Social Support Vary by Environment Among Older People With HIV in South Africa and Uganda.

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 3.7 million older adults living with HIV, who experience high rates of comorbid conditions. Formal services other than HIV clinical care are largely unavailable. Overall, women are the mainstay of informal social support networks, and older women with HIV may face burdens due to family caregiving expectations. Thus, it is important to understand the extent of informal support provided to older adults living with HIV, and how this is affected by gender. We examined differences in social networks, needs, social support and caregiving, and perceptions of support adequacy among women and men aged 50 and older living with HIV in Uganda (n = 101) and South Africa (n = 108), mostly rural and suburban populations, respectively. We used multiple regression to determine whether there was an association between gender and the amount of social support received and whether that varied by research site. Men were more likely than women to receive support from a partner. Women were more likely to live with offspring, both providing and receiving care. In South Africa but not Uganda, women received more help from family than men did. There was no gender difference in getting help from friends, but it was more common in Uganda. Living alone was strongly associated with less family help and more help from friends. Older women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa tend to be more heavily involved in social support exchanges-both providing and receiving care-than their male peers, but place matters. Interdependence is high in rural Uganda, where formal services are scarce and needs exceed resources. Given the projected growth in this population, stronger formal supports are needed for communities and older people with HIV, especially those who live alone.

Theology and Women’s Agency in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence in Ghana

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a growing problem in sub-Saharan Africa that limits women’s agency. Various studies have found that cultural norms and religion sustain women’s experiences of IPV, inspiring various theories among feminist scholars and within religion on women’s agency. This study determines whether and how theology contributes to the agency of IPV survivors. I draw upon constructivist grounded theory to inductively analyze the stories of thirteen abused Christian women in a mainline church in southern Ghana. My findings indicate that multiple systems, including informal social support networks, constrain survivors while simultaneously serving as conditions for their personal faith and individually constructed theologies. Indeed, these serve as catalysts to their self-enactments and emerging agency. These findings provide nuance to existing (and contested) conceptions of agency.

Adolescent pregnancy outcomes in Jos, North Central Nigeria: The roles of disclosure and social support systems

ABSTRACT Adolescent pregnancy is mostly unintended and an indicator of unmet sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs. In most African cultures, sociocultural and religious expectations of chastity make unintended adolescent pregnancy a traumatic experience. This study examined the roles of disclosure and social support networks in determining adolescent pregnancy outcomes in Jos, Nigeria. Using a qualitative design, we conducted in-depth interviews with 17 young persons aged 16–24 years, recruited through purposive and snowballing sampling methods. Data were analysed using an inductive approach. Informal social support networks, mainly mothers and close friends, played prominent roles in pregnancy disclosure. The fear of unsafe abortion complications and lack of other options forced most participants into early motherhood. Parenting issues also contributed to unintended adolescent pregnancies. Participants noted that adolescent males had better access to contraceptive devices like condoms. Additionally, the absence of formal opportunities for institutional support through education and youth-friendly SRH services constituted barriers to preventing unintended adolescent pregnancies. Considering the important role family plays, preventing unintended adolescent pregnancies requires empowering parents on SRH communication. A gender-based approach to adolescent-friendly SRH services is recommended. The Nigerian government needs to reconsider how to provide contextually-acceptable comprehensive sexuality education to young people.

The impact of informal social support on the health poverty vulnerability of the elderly in rural China: based on 2018 CHARLS data

ObjectiveFrom the perspective of informal social support, this paper analysed the impact of factors such as “Relationship with spouse”, “Relationship with Children”, “Financial support from children”, “Sibling support”, “Support from other friends and relatives” and “Borrowing costs” on the health poverty vulnerability of elderly people in rural China.MethodsBased on the data of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2018, the vulnerability of the rural elderly to health poverty was measured from two dimensions of health status and influencing factors of health status by the three-stage feasible generalized least square method. A quantile regression model was used to analyse the impact of six variables in the informal social support network on health poverty vulnerability: “Relationship with spouse”, “Relationship with children”, “Financial support from children”, " Sibling support”, " Support from other friends and relatives”, and “Borrowing costs”.ResultsWhen the poverty line standards were 2995 CNY/year and 4589 CNY/year, the health poverty vulnerability of the elderly population in rural China was 0.397 and 0.598 in 2018. In the analysis of informal social support, factors such as the relationship with spouse, relationship with children, borrowing costs, support from other friends and relatives, and sibling support had different impacts on the health poverty vulnerability of the rural elderly, who were classified into three groups according to their different vulnerabilities.ConclusionAccording to the analysis of the 2018 CHARLS database, the health poverty vulnerability of the elderly population was related to the informal social support network, and it is necessary to pay attention to the role of informal channels such as children, spouses, relatives and friends in daily care and financial support for rural elderly individuals. Meanwhile, the government and other formal organizations should also give full play to their supporting role for elderly individuals, who are highly vulnerable to health poverty, and their families.

Can Working Together Buffer Depression Among Older, Religious African American Couples?

Depression is a growing concern among older African Americans, as many within this group hesitate to seek professional help from psychiatrists or counselors. Instead, existing literature notes that older African Americans frequently utilize informal social support networks (e.g., church leaders) to respond to stress and buffer the negative effects of depression and depressive symptoms. Yet, little is known about the shared coping practices of older African American couples in relation to depression. Given the commonly noted high levels of religiosity among African Americans, this study examined communal coping as a mediator between sanctification and depression for older African American couples. This study utilized the dyadic data of 194 (146 married and 48 cohabiting) African American couples between the ages of 50 and 86 years. Capturing data with the Revised Sanctification of Marriage scale, the Communal Coping scale, and the Major Depression Inventory, bias-corrected bootstrap analysis revealed that men’s relationship sanctification and women’s depression was partially mediated by men’s, as well as the sum of men’s and women’s, communal coping in married couples. Further, men’s relationship sanctification and men’s depression was partially mediated by men’s, as well as the sum of men’s and women’s, communal coping. In addition, women’s sanctification was positively associated with men’s depression, directly. These findings are valuable in understanding the complex buffers, and contributors, to depression among older African American couples who may identify closely with religion but prefer the support of a partner over professional care.

Understanding the role of social support and social support network for depression among informal dementia caregivers: a pilot clinical project on caregivers in NYC

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore the association of depressive symptoms with the informal social support network reported by dementia caregivers participating in a community-based caregiver support program. Caregivers in a community-based dementia caregiver program completed an intake assessment, including the social support network instrument. Measures were completed for caregivers’ social support network, using the social support network instrument (SSNI). Measures also included depression, caregiver strain, basic activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and demographics. Findings suggest the effects of social supports and social network on caregivers’ depressive symptoms. Caregivers who had financial supports were less likely to have depressive symptoms. Also, the frequency of contact among social network variables predicted the decrease of depressive symptoms.

"I Feel All Alone Out Here": Analysis of Audio Diaries of Bereaved Hospice Family Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed social life. This secondary qualitative analysis aimed to better understand the impact of the pandemic on bereaved hospice family caregivers' experiences of social connection and isolation in a time of social distancing and general anxiety. Six caregivers in 3 states recorded audio diaries (N = 59) between March 13 and May 15, 2020. Caregivers were, on average, 56.80 years old (SD, 14.22; range, 32-67 years old) and consisted of spouses (n = 2), adult children (n = 3), and a sibling (n = 1). Using NVIVO 12, caregiver diaries were coded for (1) “social connection” (n = 23), defined as being able to access or seeking informal or formal social support networks; (2) “isolation” (n = 17), defined as being unable or reluctant to access informal or formal social support networks, or feeling alone; and (3) “bereavement processes” (n = 147), informed by the dual process model of bereavement (restoration and loss-oriented stressors). Content analysis revealed that caregivers were able to connect with others despite physical distancing expectations, expressed loneliness and grief while in isolation, and described moving on in the face of uncertainty. Findings provide insight into how caregivers experienced bereavement during the initial period of the pandemic and highlight implications for hospice bereavement services.

Church and Family Informal Social Support Networks of African Americans

Social support networks are an integral component of an individual’s life. This presentation investigates the complementary roles of family and church members as sources of informal social support among African Americans. The analysis utilizes the African American sub-sample of the National Survey of American Life. A pattern variable was constructed that describes four types of church and family networks: 1) received support from both family and church members, 2) received support from family members only, 3) received support from church members only, and 4) never received support from family nor church members. Overall the findings indicated 1) the majority of African Americans received support from both groups, 2) a small group of respondents were socially isolated in that they did not receive assistance from either family or church members, 3) for some African Americans who were estranged from their family members, church members were an alternative source of social support. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Religion, Spirituality and Aging Interest Group.

Social Support and Social Networks among LGBT Older Adults in Rural Southern Appalachia

ABSTRACT While research has begun to examine social networks and social support among LGBT older adults living in rural contexts, no research to date has examined these issues within the unique context of rural southern Appalachia. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to extend this emerging area of research by exploring the perspectives of LGBT older adults on their social networks and social support while living in rural southern Appalachia. In this study, 11 LGBT-identifying older adults were interviewed regarding their social networks and social support within the cultural context of rural Southern Appalachia. Participants generally described having rich informal social support networks that seemed to buffer and mitigate the deleterious effects of the wider culture of homophobia and transphobia. These networks, while varying from person to person, included families of choice (spouse / partner, close friends), neighbors, pets, biological family / families of origin, religious and spiritual communities, women’s or men’s social groups, and current or former coworkers. While six of the participants voiced that their support system was adequate for their needs, there were reports of mixed, tenuous, or insufficient support systems for five participants. After reviewing main findings, implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.

Parents’ perceived social support and children’s psychological adjustment

SummaryPerceived social support has often been investigated due to its direct and indirect effects in reducing the impact of several risk factors on physical and psychological well-being. Moreover, many studies have revealed a link between social support and positive parenting, which in turn has an impact on children’s well-being. In Portugal, there is a significant lack of studies in this area. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between parents’ perceived social support and children’s psychological adjustment. The sample consisted of 409 parents (83.13% mothers) living in the region of Algarve (South of Portugal). The Duke-UNC Functional Social Support and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires were used.FindingsThe results showed that, on average, families had a social support network of nine people, with a balanced presence of family ( M = 4.25, SD = 3.54) and friends ( M = 4.36, SD = 3.17). Parents reported medium-high levels of confidant and affective support, but instrumental support was lower. However, single-parent families, immigrant families, and divorced parents were found to be more socially isolated and received less support than they needed. Affective social support showed predictive value for child psychological adjustment.ApplicationsThese findings suggest that developing universal and selective parental education and support programs that focus on strengthening informal social support networks is needed, especially for vulnerable families. Implications for social workers who intervene with families are discussed.

Older adults with physical disabilities: vulnerabilities relative to the body, the physical and social environment.

to understand the vulnerabilities of older adults with physical disabilities regarding their body, physical and social environments. this was a qualitative study based on Alfred Schütz' social phenomenology, with 15 older adults with physical disability from Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Open-ended questionnaires were administered to the participants in 2017. The units of meaning that emerged were organized into thematic categories. physical decline, associated with the permanence of environmental and social barriers intensified the vulnerabilities of older adults. Gaps in health services are mitigated by informal social support networks and access to work was a form of social inclusion. vulnerabilities in the old age of persons with physical disabilities did not reside only in the body dimension, but also the physical and social environment, countering healthcare models based on the logic of reverting their dysfunctional body.

SKILLS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RECOVERY DURING AND AFTER DISASTERS TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SUPPORT

The combination of an aging population and a limited number of disaster responders reveals a need for trained laypeople who can implement interventions that facilitate recovery after traumatic events. Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) is an intervention that is designed to be implemented after use of Psychological First Aid with people who were exposed to a traumatic stressor. SPR uses a skills-building approach to promote self-efficacy, support resilience, strengthen social networks, and ameliorate the negative impact of traumatic life events. Strengthening social support is beneficial as research clearly demonstrates that destruction of communities and loss of informal social support networks produces long-term psychological distress for older adults. This presentation will demonstrate a SPR social support exercise with attendees, provide an overview of the other modules, and describe modifications for using SPR with older adults. During times of crisis, social support systems are critical to the psychological well-being of older adults.

Redes sociais de apoio no cuidado à pessoa com transtorno mental: reflexões

Objetivo: refletir acerca das redes sociais de apoio formais e informais no cuidado à pessoa com transtorno mental centrado no paradigma psicossocial. Método: estudo teórico-reflexivo tendo como base epistemológica a Reforma Psiquiátrica Brasileira, que redireciona o modelo assistencial em saúde mental. Resultados: a família é fonte primária de recurso na rede social de apoio informal e, por vezes, é a chave para a efetividade do cuidado fornecido pela rede social de apoio formal. É importante que os serviços desenvolvam estratégias de apoio para que a pessoa com transtorno mental e sua família possam esclarecer suas dúvidas e minimizar os desafios que envolvem o cuidado em saúde mental. Conclusões: a rede social de apoio é um aspecto que necessita ser valorizado pelo profissional de saúde, pois a partir dela é possível planejar o cuidado em saúde mental.

‘Call me if you need’: Social support experiences under economic and social change

ABSTRACTSocial interactions play an important role in people’s life and people’s health but their scope and intensity tend to decrease with age, challenging social support dynamics and increasing the risk of social isolation and helplessness. In Portugal, policymakers still seem to rely on traditional social relations in eldercare, while contextual changes and trends are redefining family roles and behaviors and defying the established social support structure. In this work, we aim to examine the scope, structure and experiences of the informal social support network available in the country for stroke patients 6 months after their discharge from the acute care unit in the context of a larger study. The results seem to confirm the importance of family as a source of social support and shed light on different bonding experiences with non-kin social groups, such as neighbors and friends. A coordinated care provision, combining formal and informal support is vital and beneficial for patients, their caregivers and the care system.

\u2018When helpers hurt\u2019: women\u2019s and midwives\u2019 stories of obstetric violence in state health institutions, Colombo district, Sri Lanka

BackgroundThe paper explores how age, social position or class, and linguistic and cultural background intersect and place women in varying positions of control and vulnerability to obstetric violence in state health institutions in Colombo district, Sri Lanka. Obstetric violence occurs during pregnancy, childbirth and the immediate postpartum period; hence, it is violence that directly affects women. The authors aim to break the traditional culture of silence around obstetric violence and bring attention to the resulting implications for quality of care and patient trust in obstetric care facilities or providers.MethodsFive focus group discussions were held with 28 public health midwives who had prior experience working in labor rooms. Six focus group discussions were held with 38 pregnant women with previous childbirth experience. Additionally, 10 of the 38 women, whom felt they had experienced excessive pain, fear, humiliation, and/or loss of dignity as patients in labor, participated in individual in-depth interviews. An intersectional framework was used to group the qualitative data into categories and themes for analysis.ResultsObstetric violence appears to intersect with systems of power and oppression linked to structural gender, social, linguistic and cultural inequities in Sri Lanka. In our dataset, younger women, poorer women, and women who did not speak Sinhala seemed to experience more obstetric violence than those with relevant social connections and better economic positions. The women in our study rarely reported obstetric violence to legal or institutional authorities, nor within their informal social support networks. Instead, they sought obstetric care, particularly for childbirth, in other state hospitals in subsequent pregnancies.ConclusionsThe quality of obstetric care in Sri Lanka needs improvement. Amongst other initiatives, policies and practices are required to sensitize health providers about the existence of obstetric violence, and repercussions are required for abusive or discriminatory practices. The ethics of care should be further reinforced in the professional training of obstetric health providers.

Is kinship failing? Views on informal support by families in contact with social services in Ghana

AbstractTraditionally, Ghanaian families facing difficulties address their problems by engaging kin, with the State being the last point of call. However, in recent times, more families facing difficulties are contacting social services to seek redress. So what contribution are kin and other informal social support networks providing to the care and safety of children of such families? This paper presents findings from 15 families receiving services from the Department of Social Welfare in Sekondi, Ghana. Through semistructured in‐depth interviews, the families shared their views on the roles played by their kin and informal social networks in contributing to the care of their children. The study findings suggest that kin still plays a vital role in the support of parenting through imbibing of norms and values; whereas the provision of casual support is provided by nonkin in one's social support network on the basis of reciprocity. Therefore, it was concluded that in developing social welfare policies to ensure better outcomes for children in Ghana attention also has to be placed on the supportive role of the community for families in danger of disruption as there is likely to be limited familial safety net for support in child care.