Levels Of Social Support Research Articles

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.

Stress perception, coping behaviors and work-privacy conflict of student midwives in times of COVID-19 pandemic: the “Healthy MidStudents” study in Germany

BackgroundStudent midwives deliver care for women under challenging job demands, which may affect their mental health– thus creating a high need for health promotion. Given the lack of research addressing this topic, the aim of this study is to examine the links between stress perception, coping behaviors, work-privacy conflict, and perception of COVID-19 pandemic impact on studies of student midwives in northern Germany.MethodsData were collected using a cross-sectional online-survey at nine midwifery study sites in northern Germany from October 2022 to January 2023. 342 student midwives (response rate: 61.3%) were surveyed on stress perception, coping behaviors, work-privacy conflict, and perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their studies. Descriptive, linear regression and moderation analyses were run to test explorative assumptions.ResultsResults revealed that higher levels of perceived stress were reported by 13.4% of student midwives. Social support (M = 13.76, SD = 2.19) and active stress coping (M = 10.72, SD = 2.01) were identified as most prevalent coping behaviors in the present sample. It was found that work-privacy conflict was positively associated with stress perception (ß = 0.53, p =.001) and maladaptive coping behaviors (alcohol and cigarette consumption: ß = 0.14, p =.015), and negatively associated with adaptive coping behaviors (positive thinking: ß = − 0.25, p =.001, social support: ß = − 0.23, p =.001). Students with children reported significantly lower levels of social support than students without children. 55.6% of student midwives perceived a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their studies (mostly on lectures, seminars, and contact with fellow students).ConclusionsKey findings highlighted moderate stress levels among student midwives during theoretical study stage. Based on current research, prevalence of high stress levels among student midwives remains unclear. Given the overall heterogeneous, limited research on student midwives’ stress perception, coping behaviors, work-privacy conflict and perceptions of COVID-19 pandemic impact on studies, implications for research are suggested, e.g. longitudinal studies at different time points and settings and interventional studies. Findings provide a starting point for implementation of workplace health promotion in theoretical and practical stages of midwifery science study programs, e.g. training courses on stress prevention and adaptive coping, and for improvement of working conditions.

An exploratory study on material deprivation and loneliness among older adults in Hong Kong

BackgroundPoverty, as a risk factor for loneliness, has been understudied, and there is a need to gain a better understanding of the relationship between poverty examined by material deprivation and loneliness among older adults in Hong Kong. It also aimed to explore the possible mediation and moderation effects of social support, social networks, neighborhood collective efficacy, and social engagement in the link between material deprivation and loneliness.Methods1696 Chinese older adults aged 60 years and above (Mage = 74.61; SD = 8.71) participated in a two-wave study. Older adults reported their loneliness level, material deprivation, perceived level of social support, social network, neighborhood collective efficacy, social engagement, and sociodemographic information. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the effect of material deprivation on loneliness, as well as the mediation and moderation models.ResultsThe results indicated that material deprived older adults reported a significantly higher level of loneliness 2 years later when controlling for demographic variables, health-related factors, and loneliness at baseline. We also found that engagement in cultural activities partially mediated the effect of material deprivation and loneliness. Furthermore, neighborhood collective efficacy and engagement in cultural activities were significant moderators that buffer the relationship between material deprivation and loneliness.ConclusionsOur results suggested the need to alleviate the negative impact of material deprivation on loneliness by developing interventions focused on promoting neighborhood collective efficacy and social engagement, which could be aimed at building meaningful bonds among Chinese older adults in Hong Kong.

Hubungan Antara Dukungan Sosial dengan Tingkat Kecemasan pada Pasien Kanker Payudara

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer experienced by women. In Indonesia, there are 68,858 cases of breast cancer with 30.9% of them in Central Java. The impact on the bio-psychosocio-spiritual aspects of breast cancer patients is anxiety. One effort to reduce anxiety levels in patients is to provide social support. Objective: To determine the relationship between social support and the anxiety level of breast cancer patients. Methods: The research design used is descriptive quantitative with correlational methods and cross-sectional approaches. A total of 60 respondents were selected using the consecutive sampling technique. The Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire: Social Support Survey (MOS: SSS) was used to measure social support and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to measure anxiety levels. Data analysis used Spearman's rank test. Results: There are 54 respondents of 60 respondents who have received social support in the high category, while the level of anxiety they experience tends to be in the low category (65.3%). The results of Spearman's Rank analysis showed a social relationship with anxiety (p-value = 0.021, rcount = 0.298) which means that the higher social support received, the lower the level of anxiety experienced by breast cancer patients. Conclusion: There is a negative correlation between social support and anxiety levels in breast cancer patients. The higher the social support the patient gets, the lower the level of anxiety in breast cancer patients.

Psychological Capital, Social Support, and Academic Adjustment of Students with Learning Disabilities: The Value of Institutional Support Centers

Objectives: In this study, we explored the relationships between psychological capital (PsyCap), social support, and academic adjustment in undergraduate students with learning disabilities (LD), comparing those receiving support from university centers to their unsupported peers. PsyCap, comprising hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism, is a critical determinant in the academic success of students with LD. We assessed the impact of PsyCap and social support on academic adjustment, comparing LD students who visited institutional support centers to those who did not. Methods: The sample included 120 undergraduate students with various LD diagnoses, including attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. Data were collected using 4 questionnaires. Results: There were statistically significant positive correlations between PsyCap and social support but only among students receiving institutional support. Furthermore, academic adjustment was positively associated with both PsyCap and social support, regardless of institutional support. However, LD students attending institutional support centers showed higher levels of PsyCap, social support, and academic adjustment than their counterparts who did not. Conclusions: The findings suggest institutional support enhances PsyCap-social support relations, underlining the importance of such support systems in educational settings. The study contributes to the understanding of academic adjustment challenges faced by students with LD and underscores the value of targeted support strategies.

Factors influencing positive psychological capital of dental hygiene students

Objectives: This study aimed to explore ways to improve the level of positive psychological capital of dental hygiene students. After comparing the levels of positive psychological capital, social support, and emotional regulation ability of dental hygiene students and identifying correlations, the sub-factors of social support and emotional regulation ability that affect positive psychological capital were identified. Methods: A survey of 70 questions was conducted targeting 310 dental hygiene students in Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheong-do. The results were subjected to exploratory factor analysis, frequency analysis, t-test, oneway ANOVA, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis using the PASW statistics 18.0 program. Results: The level of positive psychological capital was high when students had high grades and perceived positive relationships with professors and peers (p<0.001). Factors highly correlated with positive psychological capital include ‘self-emotional regulation ability’ among ‘emotion regulation abilities’ (r=0.665, p<0.001), and ‘emotional support related to daily life’ recognized ‘social support’ (r=0.635, p<0.001), followed by ‘social support’ (r=0.602, p<0.001). Factors affecting positive psychological capital include ‘self-emotion recognized ability’ (β=0.377, p<0.001), ‘quality of professor relationship’ (β=0.201, p<0.001), and ‘emotion control ability’. Among ‘social support’, ‘emotional support related to daily life’ (β=0.201, p=0.003) and ‘grades’ (β=0.159, p<0.001), and among ‘social support’, ‘social-related support’ (β=0.149, p=0.016), followed by ‘grade’ (β=0.076, p=0.043) were identified. Conclusions: To improve the positive psychological capital of dental hygiene students, efforts should be made to improve self-emotion regulation ability, professor relationships, emotional support related to daily life, and social support.

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.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION ON INTENTIONS OF STUDENTS IN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The capacity to affect change on a local and global scale about a range of political, social, environmental, and economic challenges is known as social entrepreneurship (SE). Young exposure to theory and practice of social entrepreneurship at postsecondary educational institutions is thought to influence this change. In this study, we examine the intentions of students in social entrepreneurship. This study's objective is to assess the degrees of social and entrepreneurial entrepreneurship. For the study, 150 college students served as the sample. This study examines empathy, moral duty, social support, self-efficacy, social impact, and educational level as principal motivators for social entrepreneurship intentions. The SPSS is a software program used to analyse the data and perform statistical analyses. The findings indicate that the only factors that were statistically correlated with the desire to engage in social entrepreneurship were empathy, self-efficacy, and psychological support. The association between social support and the ambitions for social entrepreneurship was shown to be unfavourable. In conclusion, the study provides insightful information for practitioners and educators who aim to foster a vibrant environment for student social entrepreneurship.

Changes in adolescents’ daily-life solitary experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: an experience sampling study

BackgroundAdolescent solitude was drastically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As solitude is crucial for adolescent development through its association with both positive and negative developmental outcomes, it is critical to understand how adolescents’ daily-life solitary experiences changed as a result of the pandemic.MethodsUsing three waves of Experience Sampling Method data from a longitudinal study, we compared adolescents’ daily-life solitary experiences in the early (nT1=100; MAge=16.1; SDAge=1.9; 93% girls) and mid-pandemic (nT2=204; MAge=16.5; SDAge=2.0; 79% girls) to their pre-pandemic experiences.ResultsWe found that adolescents with lower levels of pre-pandemic social support and social skills reported wanting to be alone less and feeling like an outsider more at both time points during the pandemic. In the mid-pandemic wave, adolescents with higher levels of pre-pandemic social support and social skills reported decreases in positive affect compared to the pre-pandemic wave.ConclusionThis study shows that adolescents’ daily-life solitary experiences worsened throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. There should be continued concern for the wellbeing of all adolescents, not only those already at risk, as effects of the pandemic on mental health might only manifest later.

Resilience Development of Swiss Adolescents: A Convergent Mixed-Methods Approach

Introduction: We applied a convergent mixed-methods research design, focusing on data from Swiss students to identify patterns of resilience development in high school. Method: The study consisted of an online longitudinal survey conducted in two waves, in autumn 2019 (n = 377 grade seven) and spring 2021 (n = 257 grade eight). By combining latent transition analysis (LTA), a person-oriented quantitative method, and qualitative content analysis, we detected four resilience patterns. Results: The longitudinal survey revealed a decrease in the “blooming” pattern (students who displayed high levels of individual and social support indicators as well as satisfaction with their grades and academic success measures) over time and, on the other hand, an increase in the “challenged” pattern, suggesting larger numbers of students with low levels of social support and academic success. Additionally, qualitative interviews were conducted with four students from the sample. These interviews provided insights into the stressors; coping experiences, skills, processes, and resources; and outcomes related to resilience. Discussion: The analysis revealed key factors contributing to resilience, including empowering experiences, supportive individuals, self-help as a prioritized resource, and a positive school environment. Merging the data has elicited various claims such as improving both home and school environments, along with focusing on elaborating their interplay, is the most efficacious approach to bolstering resilience.

Comorbid depression among adults with heart failure in Ethiopia: a hospital-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundDepression is a common comorbidity in adults with heart failure. It is associated with poor clinical outcomes, including decreased health-related quality of life and increased morbidity and mortality. There is a lack of data concerning the extent of this issue in Ethiopia. Consequently, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of comorbid depression and associated factors among adults living with heart failure in Ethiopia.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the cardiac outpatient clinics of two selected specialist public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College and St. Peter Specialized Hospital. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 383 adults with heart failure who attended the clinics and met the inclusion criteria. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). A binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with depression. All statistical analyses were conducted using STATA version 17 software.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 55 years. On average, participants had moderate depression, as indicated by the mean PHQ-9 score of 11.02 ± 6.14, and 217 (56.6%, 95%CI 51.53–61.68) had comorbid depression. Significant associations with depression were observed among participants who were female (AOR: 2.31, 95%CI:1.30–4.08), had comorbid diabetes mellitus (AOR: 3.16, 95%CI: 1.47–6.82), were classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV (AOR: 3.59, 95%CI: 1.05–12.30), reported poor levels of social support (AOR: 6.04, 95%CI: 2.97–12.32), and took more than five medications per day (AOR: 5.26, 95%CI: 2.72–10.18).ConclusionsThis study indicates that over half of all adults with heart failure in Ethiopia have comorbid depression, influenced by several factors. The findings have significant implications in terms of treatment outcomes and quality of life. More research in the area, including interventional and qualitative studies, and consideration of multifaceted approaches, such as psychosocial interventions, are needed to reduce the burden of comorbid depression in this population.

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.

The Maternal and Infant Environmental Health Riskscape study of perinatal disparities in greater Houston: rationale, study design and participant profiles.

The Maternal and Infant Environmental Health Riskscape (MIEHR) Center was established to address the interplay among chemical and non-chemical stressors in the biological, physical, social, and built environments that disproportionately impact perinatal health among Black pregnant people in a large and diverse urban area with documented disparities in the U.S. The MIEHR cohort is recruiting non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic white pregnant people who deliver their infants at major obstetric hospitals in Houston, Texas. At enrollment, all participants are asked to provide urine samples for chemical [metals, cotinine, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)] analyses and blood samples. A subset of the cohort is asked to provide oral and vaginal swabs, and fecal samples. Questionnaire and electronic health record data gather information about residential address history during pregnancy, pregnancy history and prenatal care, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, experiences of discrimination and stress, and sources of social support. Using information on where a participant lived during their pregnancy, features of their neighborhood environment are characterized. We provide summaries of key individual- and neighborhood-level features of the entire cohort, as well as for Black and white participants separately. Between April 2021 and February 2023, 1,244 pregnant people were recruited. Nearly all participants provided urine samples and slightly less than half provided blood samples. PAH exposure patterns as assessed on 47% of participants thus far showed varying levels depending on metabolite as compared to previous studies. Additionally, analyses suggest differences between Black and white pregnant people in experiences of discrimination, stress, and levels of social support, as well as in neighborhood characteristics. Our findings to date highlight racial differences in experiences of discrimination, stress, and levels of support, as well as neighborhood characteristics. Recruitment of the cohort is ongoing and additional neighborhood metrics are being constructed. Biospecimens will be analyzed for metals and PAH metabolites (urine samples), miRNAs (plasma samples) and the microbiome (oral swabs). Once enrollment ends, formal assessments are planned to elucidate individual- and neighborhood-level features in the environmental riskscape that contribute to Black-White disparities in perinatal health.

A Study on the Relationship between Social Support and Subjective Well being of Vocational College Students

The objective of this research is to examine the correlation between social support and subjective well-being among vocational college students using empirical surveys. The intention is to provide a foundation for increasing their mental health and improving their subjective well-being. A total of 375 students from vocational colleges were chosen as participants, and their levels of social support and subjective well-being were assessed by the administration of a questionnaire. The findings indicated a substantial positive correlation between subjective well-being and objective support, subjective support, usage of support, and the overall social support score. (2) Female vocational college students exhibit a notably greater degree of assistance use compared to their male counterparts. There exists a notable disparity in survival rates between students pursuing liberal arts and those studying science in terms of subjective well-being, with science students exhibiting much greater levels of subjective well-being compared to liberal arts students. There are notable variations seen across different grades in terms of objective support, subjective support, usage of support, overall social support score, and subjective well-being. Following the LSD post-test analysis, it was determined that freshman students exhibited significantly lower levels of objective support, subjective support, total social support score, and subjective well-being score compared to students in other grades. On the other hand, sophomore students scored significantly higher than students in other grades in terms of utilization of support. (3) A multiple regression analysis revealed that objective support, subjective support, and usage of support positively predict subjective well-being. This research examines the correlation between social support and subjective well-being and offers empirical evidence and theoretical direction to enhance the subjective well-being of vocational college students via more focused coaching.

Predictors of interdependent happiness among health science students during the COVID-19 pandemic

There are limited studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Filipino health science students, mainly those correlating a unique culturally related construct, such as interdependent happiness (IDH), to physiologic, health, and psychosocial factors. Cross-sectional data were collected to investigate the factors predicting the IDH of students at a private university during the COVID-19 pandemic. A seven-part online survey was completed by 180 respondents using convenience sampling. There was no evidence of multicollinearity issues in any of the independent variables. The findings revealed that 100% of respondents had poor sleep quality, a morning chronotype, and better eating habits. The majority (81%) had low levels of physical activity, low levels of social support (60%), and average levels of IDH (36.1%). Bivariate analyses revealed that sleep quality and chronotype were negatively associated with IDH. Dietary habits and social support were found to have a moderately positive relationship with IDH. Physical activity was not found to be significantly related to IDH. Regression analysis revealed three variables significantly associated with IDH: sleep quality, dietary habits, and social support. When age, gender, college, year level, family income, body mass index, and grade point average were all considered, there were no significant differences in the IDH of health science students. This study shows that sleep quality, dietary habits, and social support all predict IDH and should be considered when managing the psychological impact of COVID-19 or any future pandemics among students.

Relationship between Depressive Symptoms, Caregiver Strain, and Social Support with Dementia Grief in Family Caregivers.

Background and Objectives: Dementia grief in family caregivers of people with dementia refers to grieving prior to the death of the care recipient. It is related to psychosocial risk factors that may have a negative impact on the health of these family caregivers. This study aimed to describe the relationship between depressive symptoms, caregiver strain, and social support with dementia grief in family caregivers of people with dementia. Materials and Methods: A descriptive correlational cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 250 family caregivers of people with dementia participated. Dementia grief was the main variable, and depressive symptoms, caregiver strain, and social support were assessed. Additionally, socio-demographic data were collected. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and a bivariate correlation analysis and a multiple linear regression analysis were performed for dementia grief. Results: Higher scores for dementia grief were found in women, in family caregivers of patients at advanced stages of dementia, and in family caregivers with a low level of education. High levels of depressive symptoms and caregiver strain and low levels of social support indicated greater intensity of dementia grief. Depressive symptomatology was the variable with the greatest influence on dementia grief. Caregiver strain and social support also related to dementia grief, but to a lesser extent. Conclusions: In family caregivers, depressive symptoms, caregiver strain, and social support are related to the intensity of dementia grief, with a greater influence of depressive symptoms. Moreover, being female, having a low level of education, and caring for a care recipient at an advanced stage of dementia are factors associated with increased dementia grief. Concerning study limitations, the sample was restricted, belonging to a specific region of Spain and to a Provincial Federation of associations. It is necessary to exercise caution in generalizing results due to the sociodemographic and geographical characteristics of the sample.

Role of social support in the relationship between resilience and sleep quality among cancer patients.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of resilience on sleep quality and explore the role of social support between resilience and sleep quality in cancer patients. A multicenter and cross-sectional study was conducted in China from May to November 2021.A total of 202 cancer patients were recruited to complete the questionnaires composed of demographic information, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Resilience Scale-14 (RS-14), and Multidimensions Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The associations between resilience, social support, and sleep quality were explored through hierarchical regression analysis. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 50% among cancer patients. Resilience, social support, and the interaction between resilience and social support were all found to be significantly associated with sleep quality. Results of simple slope analysis indicated that the association between resilience and sleep quality were gradually decreased with the increasing social support levels (1 SD below the mean, B=-0.225, β=-0.551, P<0.001), mean social support (B=-0.147, β=-0.353, P<0.001) and high social support (1 SD above the mean, B=-0.065, β=-0.156, P<0.001). Additionally, social support mediated the effect of resilience on sleep quality among cancer patients. Poor sleep quality has been common in cancer patients. Social support could mediate and alleviate the relationship between resilience and sleep quality among cancer patients. Besides providing sufficient social support, interventions based on resilience should be applied to address sleep problems in cancer patients.

A pathway study of factors influencing quality of fertility life

BackgroudTo investigate the factors influencing fertility quality of life in infertile men, constructing a structural equation model of the factors influencing fertility quality of life in infertile men, and to provide suggested measures for improving fertility quality of life in infertile men.MethodsIt is a Observational study. Infertile men (n = 250) attending a fertility centre in a hospital in Xinjiang, matched 1:2 men with no obvious male factor in the control group (n = 500).The Quality of Fertility Life Scale, the Social Support Scale, the Fertility Stress Scale and the Positive Attention Awareness Scale were used to conduct the survey. The model was constructed by applying the maximum likelihood estimation method in Mplus 8.3 software, to explore the factors influencing the quality of reproductive life of infertile men through path analyses. Differences between the case and control groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in terms of total fertility quality of life scores, core entry dimensions, affective responses, physical and mental relationships, selective treatment dimensions, and treatment tolerance.ResultsPast medical history, history of exposure to hazardous environments, health insurance reimbursement, social support, fertility stress, and mindfulness are important factors affecting the quality of fertility life of infertile men.ConclusionThe quality of fertility life of infertile men is not optimistic. By improving the level of mindfulness, fertility stress, and social support, we propose appropriate measures to improve the quality of fertility life of infertile men. These measures can improve their confidence in clinical diagnosis and infertility treatment, enabling them to cope positively with these challenges.

The moderating effect of social support on the effectiveness of a web-based, computer-tailored physical activity intervention for older adults.

This study aimed to assess the moderating effect of social support on the effectiveness of a web-based, computer-tailored physical activity intervention for older adults. In the Active for Life trial, 243 inactive adults aged 65+ years were randomised into: (1) tailoring + Fitbit (n = 78), (2) tailoring-only (n = 96) or (3) control (n = 69). For the current study, participants were categorised as having higher (n = 146) or lower (n = 97) social support based on the Duke Social Support Index (DSSI_10). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was measured through accelerometers at baseline and post-intervention. A linear mixed model analysis demonstrated that among participants with lower social support, the tailoring + Fitbit participants, but not the tailoring only participants increased their MVPA more than the control. Among participants with higher social support, no differences in MVPA changes were observed between groups. Web-based computer-tailored interventions with Fitbit integration may be more effective in older adults with lower levels of social support.