Instrumental Social Support Research Articles

Social support moderates the relationship between burnout and job satisfaction in aerodigestive team members

Burnout among healthcare workers is a public health crisis. Burnout is associated with elevated cynicism, emotional exhaustion, and low job satisfaction. Methods to combat burnout have been challenging to identify. Based on positive experiences of pediatric aerodigestive team members, we hypothesized that social support in multidisciplinary aerodigestive teams moderates the effects of burnout on job satisfaction.Using a survey of the Aerodigestive Society, members of Aerodigestive teams (N = 119) completed demographics, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and measures of job satisfaction, emotional, and instrumental social support. In addition to assessing relationships between components of burnout and job satisfaction, six tests were conducted using PROCESS to ascertain the degree to which social support moderated these relationships.Similar to US healthcare base rates, burnout scores in this sample suggest that a third-to-half felt Emotionally Exhausted and Burned Out from work "A few times a month"-to-"Every Day." Simultaneously, however, the majority in sample (60.6%) noted feeling that they "positively impact others' lives" with 33.3% endorsing "Every Day." Job satisfaction was strikingly high at 89%, with most reporting Aerodigestive team affiliation related to higher job satisfaction. Both Emotional and Instrumental social support moderated the effect of Cynicism and Emotional Exhaustion on Job Satisfaction, with higher Job Satisfaction scores in conditions of high support.These results support the hypothesis that social support from a multidisciplinary aerodigestive team moderates the effect of burnout in its team members. Further work is needed to understand if membership in other interprofessional healthcare teams can help combat the negative effects of burnout.

Correlates of the Wiesbaden Scale for Positive Psychotherapy and Family Therapy 2.0 in 93 Polish Female Students of Psychotherapy

The article presents correlational analysis of the concepts used in PPT in the context of social competences, attachment styles and stress-coping strategies in 93 female students of psychotherapy. Polish translation of WIPPF2.0, together with Profile of Social Competencies (PROKOS), Questionnaire of Attachment Styles (KSP) and Polish adaptation of the COPE Inventory were used as measuring tools. Minor to moderate correlations were found between social competences and four Secondary capabilities (Openness, Politeness, Orderliness, Cleanliness) as well as attachment styles and two Primary capabilities (Trust, Sexuality/Tenderness) and three Model dimensions ( I-mother, I-father, YOU). Social Contact was moderately (and positively) correlated with Seeking of Instrumental Social Support and Seeking of Emotional Social Support, whereas Body/Senses, Activity/Achievement and Future/Fantasy were positively correlated with Mental Disengagement.

Parenting Daily Hassles and General Well Being: Moderating Role of Social Support Among Mothers

The present research aims to find the relationship between parenting daily hassles, social support, and general wellbeing of mothers. Moreover, the study intends to investigate the moderating role of various types of Social Support. It was hypothesized that parenting daily hassles would be related with social support and general well being. It was also hypothesized that social support will moderate the relationship between parenting daily hassles and general well-being among mothers. A sample of 150 mothers was validated through convenient sampling technique. Parenting daily hassles scale, 2-way social support scale and general wellbeing schedule measures were used. The results showed that there is a significant negative correlation between intensity of parenting daily hassles and general wellbeing. The findings supported that intensity of parenting daily hassles predicts general wellbeing among mothers. The research also indicates that receiving instrumental social support moderates the relationship between intensity of parenting daily hassles and general well-being. The findings of the research sheds light upon the fact that instrumental support is required from the environment of mothers for their general wellbeing. It also provides a guideline mental health practitioner to develop therapeutic plans that increases instrumental support for mothers with higher intensities of parenting daily hassles.

Changes in health and social relationships on loneliness among older adults

ABSTRACT Purpose Loneliness affect older people’s health and well-being. This study explored the effects of changes in health and social relationships on loneliness in older adults. Methods Data were from the 2011 and 2015 surveys of the Taiwan Longitudinal Survey on Aging. Individuals who were aged ≥55 years at the baseline (2011) and who completed both waves of the survey were included in the analysis (n = 2,512). In the 2015 wave, loneliness was predicted on the basis of the factors identified in the 2011 wave and the changes in health and social relationship between the two waves. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed. Results Decreased social group participation, decreased receiving instrumental social support, increased negative support, decreased feeling of usefulness to others, decreased informational support, decreased financial life satisfaction, increased stress, and increased depressive symptoms were related to a higher level of loneliness, whereas increased social support and social participation as well as decreased stress and depressive symptoms were related to a lower level of loneliness. Changes in depressive symptoms, a reduction in financial satisfaction, and an increase in stress were related to both the social and emotional dimensions of loneliness. Decreased social connection, social support, and social participation were related to social loneliness, whereas an increase in physical disability was related to emotional loneliness. Conclusion Older people’s changes in social support, social participation, financial satisfaction, stress, and depressive symptoms may affect their loneliness afterward. Social networks and resources should be developed in the community for older adults.

Prevalence of suicidality and associated factors of suicide risk in a representative community sample of families in three East African refugee camps

PurposeTo assess the prevalence of suicidality and associated factors of suicide risk in a sample of Burundian refugee families living in three refugee camps in Tanzania.MethodsChildren (n = 230) and their parents (n = 460) were randomly selected and interviewed about suicidality (suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts) and a range of sociodemographic, psychological, and environmental factors. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine factors associated with children and parents’ lower and moderate or high current suicide risk.ResultsPast-month prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts were 11.3%, 0.9% and 0.9%, respectively, among children; 37.4%, 7.4% and 5.2%, respectively, among mothers; and 29.6%, 4.8% and 1.7%, respectively, among fathers. Older age in years (aORlower = 2.20, 95% CI 1.38–3.51; aORmoderate/high = 3.03, 95% CI 1.15–7.99) and higher levels of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (aORlower = 1.64, 95% CI 1.05–2.57; aORmoderate/high = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.02–5.16), internalizing (aORmoderate/high = 2.88, 95% CI 1.33–6.26) and externalizing problems (aORlower = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.06–2.31; aORmoderate/high = 3.03, 95% CI 1.42–6.49) were significantly positively associated with children’s current suicide risk. For mothers, higher perceived instrumental social support (aORmoderate/high = 0.05, 95% CI < 0.01–0.58) was significantly negatively related to suicide risk, whereas exposure to community violence (aORlower = 1.97, 95% CI 1.30–2.99; aORmoderate/high = 1.59, 95% CI 1.00–2.52), living in larger households (aORlower = 1.74, 95% CI 1.17–2.57), and higher psychological distress (aORmoderate/high = 1.67, 95% CI 1.05–2.67) were significantly positively associated with suicide risk. For fathers, higher perceived instrumental social support (aORmoderate/high = 0.04, 95% CI < 0.01–0.44) and having more years of formal education (aORmoderate/high = 0.58, 95% CI 0.34–0.98) were significantly negatively and exposure to war-related trauma (aORmoderate/high = 1.81, 95% CI 1.03–3.19) was significantly positively associated with suicide risk.ConclusionPrevention programs should target psychopathology, community violence and social support to mitigate children and parents’ current suicide risk.

The Role of Gender in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder: Differences Related to Hopelessness, Alexithymia, Coping Strategies, and Sensory Profile.

Background and Objectives: Gender differences are poorly investigated in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), although they could be useful in determining the most appropriate pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment. The aim of the present study was to compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the emotional and behavioral dimensions (such as coping, alexithymia, and sensory profile) between males and females with BPD. Material and Methods: Two hundred seven participants were recruited. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) were administered. Results: Male patients with BPD showed more involuntary hospitalizations and greater use of alcohol and illicit substances compared to females. Conversely, females with BPD reported more frequent medication abuse than males. Furthermore, females had high levels of alexithymia and hopelessness. Regarding coping strategies, females with BPD reported higher levels of "restraint coping" and "use of instrumental social support" at COPE. Finally, females with BPD had higher scores in the Sensory Sensitivity and Sensation Avoiding categories at the AASP. Conclusions: Our study highlights gender differences in substance use, emotion expression, future vision, sensory perception, and coping strategies in patients with BPD. Further gender studies may clarify these differences and guide the development of specific and differential treatments in males and females with BPD.

Association of Perceived Social Support with Viral Suppression Among Young Adults with Perinatally-Acquired HIV in the US-based Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS).

To determine the relationship between perceived social support and viral suppression among young adults with perinatally-acquired HIV (YAPHIV). We included YAPHIV ≥18 years enrolled in AMP Up, a study of PHACS (Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study), with social support evaluations and ≥1 HIV viral load (VL) measured over the next year. We evaluated emotional, instrumental, and friendship social support via the NIH Toolbox. We defined social support, measured at study entry and year 3 (if available), as low (T-score ≤40), average (41-59) or high (≥60). We defined viral suppression as all VL <50 copies/mL over the one year after social support measures. We fit multivariable Poisson regression models using generalized estimating equations, and evaluated transition from pediatric to adult care as an effect modifier. Among 444 YAPHIV, low emotional and instrumental support and friendship at entry were reported by 37%, 32% and 36%. Over the next year, 44% were virally suppressed. Of 136 with year 3 data, 45% were suppressed. Average or high levels of all three social support measures were associated with higher likelihood of viral suppression. Instrumental support was associated with viral suppression among those in pediatric (adjusted proportion suppressed among those with average/high vs low support=51.2% vs 28.9%; risk ratio (RR)=1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.37, 2.29), but not adult care (40.0% vs 40.8%; RR=0.98, 95% CI=0.67, 1.44). Sufficient social support increases likelihood of viral suppression among YAPHIV. Strategies to enhance social support may promote viral suppression as YAPHIV prepare for adult clinical care transition.

Understanding Binge Drinking Quitting Intention and Behaviour Using an Extended TPB

Background Binge drinking is a social problem that is highly prevalent in South Africa, particularly among the youth. The behaviour has negative consequences on the health of individuals and society. Focus of the Article This empirical study drew from the Theory of planned behaviour and decomposed the theory’s determinants of intention into two components each, to investigate intention to quit binge drinking. Social support from the Social cognitive theory was also investigated as a determinant of intention to quit. Furthermore, the study investigates the determinants quitting binge drinking behaviour. Research Hypotheses The study proposed that attitude (affective and instrumental); subjective norms (injunctive and descriptive), perceived behavioural control (self-efficacy and perceived controllability) and social support positively and significantly predict intention to quit binge drinking. Intention, perceived controllability and self-efficacy were hypothesised to predict actual behaviour of quitting binge drinking. Importance to the Social Marketing Field This study contributes theoretical knowledge through the use of an extended TPB model that focuses on the desired behaviour of quitting binge drinking and provides specific determinants that social marketers can use when designing interventions. The two-component TPB used in the study also provides social marketers distinctive and specific knowledge on which aspects from the original one component significantly influence the intention to quit. The implications are discussed from a social marketing perspective. Methods A cross-sectional, quantitative online survey was used to collect data from a convenient sample of 810 respondents. Partial Least Squares Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data including testing the hypothesis and age group–based multigroup analysis. Results Instrumental attitude, injunctive norms, descriptive norms, self-efficacy and social support were found to significantly and positively predict intention to quit binge drinking explaining 49.2% variance in intention. However, the influence of affective attitude was negative and insignificant. Intention and self-efficacy positively explained 16.2% of variance in behaviour. Recommendations for Research/Practice It is recommended that social marketers focus on instrumental attitude injunctive, descriptive norms, self-efficacy as well as social support when designing interventions to promote quitting binge drinking behaviour. Limitations The main limitation of the study is it provides a broad ranging overview which calls for more experimental efforts to be done on the ground for practitioners promoting positive behaviour change.

Personality Traits, Interpersonal Conflict Resolution Strategies and Coping Skills Among X, Y, Z Generations

The aim of this study was to determine whether personality traits, interpersonal conflict resolution strategies, and coping skills differ from one another according to the generations (X, Y, Z). Hence, how generations (X, Y, Z) differentiate according to personality traits, conflict resolution approaches, and coping skills was explored. The sample of the study consisted of 433 participants (257 female and 176 male) which are composed of Generation X (n = 141), Generation Y (n = 165), Generation Z (n = 127). The data was obtained by the Demographic Information Form, The Big Five Inventory (BFI), Conflict Communication Scale (CCS) and Coping Skills Scale (The Brief- COPE). Multiple variance analysis (MANOVA) was used to see whether there is a significant difference between BFI, CCS, and the Brief-COPE in terms of Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z. The study results demonstrated that there was a statistically significant difference in personality traits according to Generation X, Generation Y, Generation Z. Moreover, Generation X, Generation Y, Generation Z differentiated according to confrontation, emotional expression, and self-disclosure subscale of CCS. However, Generation X, Generation Y, Generation Z did not differentiate in terms of conflict approach/avoidance and public/private behavior level. Furthermore, Generation X, Generation Y, Generation Z differentiated according to substance use, suppression of competing activities, denial, restraint, positive reinterpretation, and planning subscale of the Brief-COPE. In addition, Generation X, Generation Y, Generation Z did not differentiate in terms of instrumental social support, acceptance, humor, venting of emotions, religion, behavioral disengagement, mental disengagement, emotional social support levels.

A daily diary study of self-compassion and adaptive coping behaviours in women with symptoms of bulimia nervosa

BackgroundMental health is more than the absence of illness and includes the ability to cope adaptively with stress. To shed light on the factors that promote mental health in people with eating disorders, this daily diary study examined whether daily and trait levels of self-compassion predict adaptive coping behaviours in women with symptoms of bulimia nervosa (BN).MethodsWomen (N = 124) who met the DSM-5 criteria for BN completed 2 weeks of nightly measures assessing their daily level of self-compassion and their daily adaptive coping behaviours, namely, their use of problem-solving strategies, seeking and receiving of instrumental social support, and seeking and receiving of emotional social support.ResultsMultilevel modelling revealed that on days when self-compassion levels were higher than their personal mean level or than the preceding day’s level, participants reported greater use of problem-solving strategies, greater seeking and receiving of instrumental social support, and greater receiving of emotional social support. Daily levels of self-compassion, but not increased self-compassion from the preceding day, were associated with emotional support sought. Further, higher trait self-compassion, as measured by participants’ mean level of self-compassion over the 2 weeks, was associated with increased seeking and receiving of instrumental and emotional social support but not with problem-solving strategies. All models controlled for participants’ daily and mean eating pathology over the 2 weeks, highlighting the unique contribution of self-compassion to adaptive coping behaviours.ConclusionsResults suggest that self-compassion may help individuals with symptoms of BN cope with challenges in their daily life more adaptively, an integral component of positive mental health. The present study is among the first to suggest that the benefits of self-compassion for individuals with eating disorder symptoms may lie not only in facilitating reduced eating pathology, as evidenced by prior research, but also in promoting positive mental health. More broadly, findings underscore the potential value of interventions designed to build self-compassion in individuals with eating disorder symptoms.

Psychosocial resources predict frequent pain differently for men and women: A prospective cohort study.

Psychosocial resources, psychological and social factors like self-efficacy and social support have been suggested as important assets for individuals with chronic pain, but the importance of psychosocial resources for the development of pain is sparsely examined, especially sex and gender differences. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between psychosocial resources and sex on the development of frequent pain in a general population sample, and to deepen the knowledge about sex and gender patterns. A sample from the Swedish Health Assets Project, a longitudinal cohort study, included self-reported data from 2263 participants, 53% women, with no frequent pain at baseline. The outcome variable was frequent pain at 18-months follow-up. Psychosocial resources studied were general self-efficacy, instrumental and emotional social support. Log binomial regressions in a generalised linear model were used to calculate risk ratios (RRs), comparing all combinations of men with high psychosocial resources, men with low psychosocial resources, women with high psychosocial resources and women with low psychosocial resources. Women with low psychosocial resources had higher risk of frequent pain at follow-up compared to men with high resources: general self-efficacy RR 1.82, instrumental social support RR 2.33 and emotional social support RR 1.94. Instrumental social support was the most important protective resource for women, emotional social support was the most important one for men. Results were discussed in terms of gender norms. The psychosocial resources general self-efficacy, instrumental and emotional support predicted the risk of developing frequent pain differently among and between men and women in a general population sample. The results showed the importance of studying sex and gender differences in psychological and not least social predictors for pain.

The Well-Being of Youth with Complex Needs in Care Preparing to Transition to Adulthood

Youth with chronic developmental delays and comorbid psychological disorders (complex needs) who live in out-of-home care are at increased risk of difficulties in all life areas. Few studies have investigated factors that facilitate positive outcomes. This study investigated the strength of youth’s connections with caring adults as a significant mediator of social support and personal well-being. A convenience sample of 25 youth with a mean age of 18.14 years old who lived in a group home or semi-independent living settings rated their social support (instrumental and emotional), strength of connections, and personal well-being on self-report measures. Research questions were examined with correlation, regression, and mediation analyses. Older youth reported less instrumental social support; this type of support did not correlate with well-being. Emotional support correlated with well-being. Strong relationships with caring adults partially explained how youth who perceive more emotional support feel happier about their life overall. The findings of this study show how to support youth with complex needs in care during the challenge of transitioning to adulthood and provides evidence that allows us to identify the positive impact of perceived strong connections with caring adults. Perceived strength of relationships with caring adults has a great influence on their well-being. HIGHLIGHTS Youth in care with complex needs experience poor outcomes in the transition to adulthood. Perceived instrumental support was negatively correlated with age; older youth in care perceive less instrumental support. Emotional support predicts personal well-being, but instrumental support does not. Strong connections with adults help youth feel happy about their future outcomes.

'With a Little Help from My Friends': Emotional Intelligence, Social Support, and Distress during the COVID-19 Outbreak.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a global existential social and health challenge, with individuals suffering mentally and psychologically. College and university students are young adults, typically away from their natural support systems; with pandemic-imposed measures such as isolation, they may have been at higher risk of experiencing negative psychological outcomes. The study tested a model in which social support mediated the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and a latent factor representing general mental distress at the height of the COVID-19 crisis in Poland. One hundred and fifty-nine young adults filled in measures of trait EI, psychological and instrumental social support, three distress measures (depression, anxiety, and stress), and demographics. The results supported a model in which psychological social support (but not instrumental social support) mediated the association between trait EI and a factor representing all three distress measures. The results shed light on how individual and social resources work together to help maintain psychological integrity in times of crisis. They add to recent results on the differential effects of psychological-emotional and instrumental social support on distress and well-being.

Stressful Events, Psychological Distress and Well-Being during the Second Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: A Gender Analysis

The present study investigates gender differences in stressful events, psychological distress and well-being during the second wave of COVID-19 in Spain, analyzing women’s and men’s risk and resilience factors for psychological distress and for well-being. Participants were 1758 individuals from the general population, 50.8% women, aged between 18 and 79 years. Women and men did not differ in age, number of children, educational level, occupation or marital status. The participants were assessed by seven self-report questionnaires and scales. The results revealed that women experienced more psychological distress, more negative feelings, more stressful events related to the COVID-19 pandemic, more social support, and lower thriving and self-esteem than men. Multiple regression analyses showed that, in the case of women and men as well, self-esteem was the most important predictor of higher well-being and lower psychological distress and negative feelings while more COVID-19 pandemic-related stressful events were associated with higher psychological distress and lower well-being. Another important predictor of greater well-being for either gender was social support while unemployment was associated with lower well-being. In women and men, a higher educational level was associated with greater psychological distress and negative feelings; the male sample revealed that psychological distress was also connected to younger age while in women it was associated with lower instrumental social support. The results suggest that gender plays an important role in the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the risk being higher for women than for men.

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.

Daily Stressors, Social Support, and Mental Health Experiences of Dementia Family Caregivers

AbstractBackgroundFamily members providing informal care to individuals living with dementia have an increased risk of depression and anxiety. While risk and protective factors of poor mental health outcomes have previously been identified, little is known about the day‐to‐day circumstances in which depression and anxiety‐related symptoms are more likely to appear among dementia caregivers. The purpose of this study was to identify contextual factors associated with daily depression and anxiety symptom experience among dementia family caregivers.MethodA national sample of family caregivers (N = 165) completed daily diary surveys over 21 days (n = 2,841). Mixed‐level models were used to examine relationships between daily behavioral symptoms of dementia (BSDs), emotional and instrumental social support, and depression and anxiety‐related symptoms.ResultDepression and anxiety symptoms were endorsed by 141 (85.45%) and 155 (93.94%) caregivers, respectively. Dementia caregivers were more likely to report depression (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.11‐1.18, p &lt; 0.001) and anxiety (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.09‐1.16, p &lt; 0.001) on a given day when BSDs were present and perceived as more bothersome than usual. Specific BSDs, including restless behaviors and intense emotions, also increased the daily odds of experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms. Further, the daily odds of depression decreased on days when caregivers reported informal instrumental support (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.4‐0.92, p &lt; 0.05), while the daily odds of anxiety increased on days when caregivers reported emotional support (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.07‐1.99, p &lt; 0.05).ConclusionThe risk of experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms varies daily based on the presence of specific contextual factors. The results from this study demonstrate the dynamic nature of mental health in the context of dementia caregiving. These findings support the need for ecologically‐valid interventions to improve the day‐to‐day well‐being of dementia family caregivers.

The impact of visual impairment and other risk factors on health‐related quality of life among people living in retirement homes in Armenia

AbstractPurpose: The study aimed to examine the effect of visual impairment, eye diseases and other risk factors on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in retirement home residents in Armenia.Methods: The survey was conducted among 313 beneficiaries from retirement homes. Interviewer‐administered structured questionnaire explored socio‐demographic characteristics of participants, presence of chronic non‐communicable diseases, depressive symptoms, HRQoL, smoking, physical activity, receiving and giving instrumental and emotional social support, sleeping disorder, and adverse life events. Ophthalmic examinations were conducted to assess participants' visual acuity and presence of eye diseases.Results: The mean age was 72.5 years. Women constituted 50% of the sample. About 28% of participants reported depressive symptoms. The prevalence of normal vision was 49%, mild/moderate and severe visual impairment was 46%, and blindness was 5%. Uncorrected refractive errors were found in 20% of participants. In the adjusted linear regression model, presence of chronic non‐communicable diseases (β = −11.3; CI: −15.3; −7.39), physical activity (β = 15.3; CI: 9.04; 21.5), sleeping disorders (β = −5.58; CI: −10.2; −0.96), receiving emotional support (β = 0.09; CI: 0.01; 0.17) and giving instrumental support (β = 0.17; CI: 0.08; 0.25), presence of depressive symptoms (β = −11.7; CI: −16.0; −7.46) and uncorrected refractive errors (β = −9.15; CI: −17.3; −1.04) were associated with HRQoL.Conclusions: This study found high prevalence of uncorrected refractive errors, visual impairment and blindness among people in retirement homes. Regular eye screening programs and distribution of spectacles could improve eye health in the target population. Promote healthy behaviours including regular physical activity to enhance HRQoL. A focus on people with chronic non‐communicable diseases and depressive symptoms is warranted.

The impact of conditional cash transfers for HIV prevention on peer relationships: perspectives from female recipients and non-recipients in HPTN 068

CCTs are currently being explored for HIV prevention among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Southern Africa. However, little is known about how CCT geared towards adolescents’ influence peer relationships, despite evidence that peer relationships form a critical part of development in adolescence. This article presents findings from a qualitative study that explored CCT recipients’ and non-recipients’ perspectives on the impact of CCTs paid to AGYW on peer relationships.HPTN 068 was a randomised controlled trial that assessed whether providing CCT to AGYW and their households reduces AGYW’s risk of acquiring HIV. As part of this trial, we conducted interviews and focus group discussions with sub-samples of AGYW (n = 39), who were both cash recipients and non-recipients. Through content analysis, we explored ways in which the CCT positively or negatively impacted on peer relationships.From the recipients’ viewpoint, the CCT improved their social standing within their peer groups. It facilitated peer identity and promoted social connectedness among AGYW receiving the CCT. Receipt of the CCT enabled AGYW to resemble and behave like their peers who had money, allowing their poverty to become “invisible”. The CCT facilitated social interactions, information sharing, and instrumental social support among AGYW. CCT recipients experienced an increase in their social capital, evident in their ability to network, share, and reciprocate with others. However, the CCT also evoked negative emotions such as jealousy, anxiety, and resentment among non-recipients and led to a deterioration of personal relationships.CCTs have enormous benefits for AGYW, but they may also have a negative impact on peer relationships. The implementation of HIV prevention interventions focused on structural drivers needs to be conscious of these dynamics and ensure that the negative consequences do not outweigh benefits.

General self-efficacy and social support in men and women with pain – irregular sex patterns of cross-sectional and longitudinal associations in a general population sample

BackgroundThe study of sex and gender patterns in psychosocial resources is a growing field of interest in pain research with importance for pain rehabilitation and prevention. The aims of this study were first, to estimate cross-sectional differences in psychosocial resources (general self-efficacy and social support) across men and women in a population with frequent musculoskeletal pain (pain in the back or neck/shoulder nearly every day or now and again during the week for the last 12 months) and to compare these differences with a population with no frequent pain. Second, to examine if psychosocial resources at baseline were associated with pain at follow-up among men and women in the frequent pain population.MethodsThis study was based on survey data from the Swedish Health Assets Project, including The General Self-Efficacy Scale and social support questions. Participants (n = 4010, 55% women) were divided into no frequent pain (n = 2855) and frequent pain (n = 1155). General self-efficacy and social support were analyzed (cross-sectional and longitudinal data) with linear and logistic regressions.ResultsMen, with and without frequent pain, had higher general self-efficacy than the corresponding groups in women. Women, with and without frequent pain, had stronger emotional social support than the corresponding groups in men. Men with no frequent pain had weaker instrumental social support than women with no frequent pain (OR = 0.64 (95% CI 0.47–0.87)), men with frequent pain did not (OR = 1.32 (95% CI 0.86–2.01)). In the frequent pain population, the interaction between sex and strong (compared to weak) emotional social support was statistically significant (p = 0.040) for no frequent pain at follow-up, with women having OR = 1.81 and men OR = 0.62. Among women, strong emotional social support was associated with no frequent pain at follow-up. Among men, strong emotional social support was associated with frequent pain at follow-up.ConclusionSome of the associations between general self-efficacy, social support and musculosceletal pain showed unexpected sex patterns. Gendered expectations might have relevance for some of the results.

Gender differences in social support for diabetes self-management: A qualitative study among veterans

ObjectiveDescribe the role of social support in veterans’ diabetes self-management and examine gender differences. MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews among veterans with diabetes from one Veterans Health Administration Health Care System. Participants described how support persons influenced their diabetes self-management and perspectives on a proposed self-management program incorporating a support person. We used thematic analysis to identify salient themes and examine gender differences. ResultsAmong 18 women and 18 men, we identified four themes: 1) women felt responsible for their health and the care of others; 2) men shared responsibility for managing their diabetes, with support persons often attempting to correct behaviors (social control); 3) whereas both men and women described receiving instrumental and informational social support, primarily women described emotional support; and 4) some women’s self-management efforts were hindered by support persons. Regarding programs incorporating a support person, some participants endorsed including family/friends and some preferred programs including other individuals with diabetes. ConclusionsNotable gender differences in social support for self-management were observed, with women assuming responsibility for their diabetes and their family’s needs and experiencing interpersonal barriers. Practice implicationsGender differences in the role of support persons in diabetes self-management should inform support-based self-management programs.