Main Source Of Social Support Research Articles

Percepção de homens após infarto agudo do miocárdio

Objective: To understand men’s perception about their feelings, repercussions of lifestyle change and family participation after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: Qualitative descriptive study conducted between March and June 2016 in Goiânia, Goias, Brazil, using semi-structured interviews with adult men who had an episode of infarction. The analysis of the interviews was based on Grounded Theory, from which the following explanatory categories emerged: Feelings experienced by the patients after diagnosis of AMI; Repercussion of lifestyle change with focus on feeding and physical activity; Family involvement and support. Results: In the midst of the whirlwind of feelings that accompanied the diagnosis of AMI, the fear of finitude and of abandoning the family stood out. Lifestyle change, as an essential element of non-drug treatment, was initiated. However, with regard to feeding, they were partially insufficient due to the lack of adequate nutritional guidelines. As for physical activity, there was adequate awareness, but the difficulty of maintaining the new habit prevailed. Families have proved to be the main source of social support, being decisive in this process. The adherence was partial and the lack of continuity was the main obstacle. Conclusion: The success of continuous therapeutic planning depends on users’ adherence, who experience difficulties in this aspect, even in the face of adequate social support. There is a clear need for raising awareness of secondary prevention and its benefits, of food education and of maintaining habit changes.

The role of the partner in social support networks in Spain

ABSTRACTSocial support influences the subject’s well-being through various mechanisms. Literature shows that the partner is one of the main sources of social support. Nevertheless, sometimes people do not ask their partners first for help. Our aim is to determine what factors (values related to the family, personal characteristics and availability of resources) influence this decision. We use Spanish representative samples from International Social Survey Programme (2001) and Spain’s Center for Sociological Research (2010). Data show that family solidarity is widespread in Spanish society. The determinants for not turning first to the partner are the availability and frequent contact with immediate kin, whereas family values and personal characteristics are less relevant.

The role of social relationship in HIV healing and its implications in HIV cure in China

HIV is both a biomedical disease and a social phenomenon that is constructed in particular cultural contexts. A successful and humane HIV cure requires not only the science of eradicating pathogens, but also the art of healing to restore harmony between mind and body. Healing in the context of HIV cure will be both personal and interpersonal, biological and social, and will involve rebuilding connections between HIV patients and their social environment. Social conceptions of healing have been highlighted in many regions with rich non-biomedical healing traditions, including China. Based on an adapted theoretical model on social relationships and health, we address the essential role of social relations for HIV healing in Chinese cultural context, and propose several recommendations for reforming practices and policies regarding HIV healing. In general, family is still a core social unit in HIV patients’ medical journey from diagnosis to treatment. A positive patient–physician relationship based on mutual respect and trust also has critical impact on patients’ physical and mental health. Physicians may become a key or the main source of social support in circumstances when families are not actively engaged in healing. Reconnecting HIV patients with their communities should be a necessary component of HIV cure, as this will help patients engage more fully in the HIV healing process. We call for a family-centered approach in HIV healing intervention to strengthen patient–family ties; a series of policies to build up and sustain positive patient–physician ties; and multi-level strategies to empower patients and rebuild their bonds to community and larger society. We also call for more empirical research on how non-biomedical healing approaches in various cultural settings could (directly or indirectly) inform HIV cure research.

Social Support and Condom Use Among Female Sex Workers in China

While the relationship between social support and psychological well-being has been well established, limited studies have explored how social support might affect condom use among female sex workers (FSWs). Using cross-sectional data from 1,022 FSWs in Guangxi, China, we examined how different forms of support from diverse sources may influence condom use among FSWs. Friends, coworkers, and stable partners were FSWs’ main sources of social support. Social support from diverse sources differently impacts FSWs’ condom use. Policymakers need to consider the complicated profile of social support received by FSWs and create supportive environment for FSWs to protect themselves from HIV risks.

APOIO SOCIAL, ACONTECIMENTOS STRESSANTES, ADAPTABILIDADE E COESÃO EM FAMÍLIAS EM RISCO PSICOSSOCIAL

Over the last decades the infant protection systems shifted from an assistance perspective to a perspective focused on family preservation. Since the effectiveness of interventions depends on its adjustment to the needs of these families, it is crucial to analyze the life trajectories and understand the family dynamics. In this study we analyzed family cohesion and adaptability, stressful life events, and social support in families with minors at psychosocial risk. We interviewed 51 participants (64,7% females), aged between 16 and 57 years-old, living in Faro. We used the Arizona Social Support Interview Schedule, the Scale of Social Support for Stressful Life Situations, the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Scales, the Inventory of Stressful and Risk Situations, and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Families had a high unemployment rate and an accentuated educational, financial and occupational precariousness. Participants experienced a significant number of stressful life events, mainly related to psychological, marital and financial problems, with high emotional impact. Regarding family functioning, cohesion levels were higher than adaptability levels. Participants reported a higher need for emotional support than informative or material support. Participants received little support from professionals and their main source of social support were Familias em risco psicossocial 305 family members and friends. We discuss the needs for support and intervention to be taken into account by professionals who work with these families.

Interações familiares: observação de diferentes subsistemas em família com uma criança com Síndrome de Down

estudos sobre as interações familiares de crianças com Síndrome de Down (SD) são escassos e enfatizam, quase exclusivamente, interações da mãe com a criança, apesar de a literatura ressaltar a importância de se incluir vários subsistemas familiares para um entendimento mais amplo da dinâmica familiar. Adicionalmente, são diversos os fatores que podem alterar a dinâmica de funcionamento da família e a qualidade das interações entre seus membros ao se considerar o impacto gerado pela chegada de um membro com deficiência na família. Diante disso, esta pesquisa teve como objetivos: descrever os padrões da interação entre uma criança com SD e seus familiares (pai, mãe, avó materna, irmã) em função dos subsistemas diádicos, triádicos e poliádicos; e caracterizar alguns fatores que possivelmente têm influência sobre os padrões de interação: nível socioeconômico, níveis de estresse, rede de apoio e ajustamento marital. Foram utilizados instrumentos de relato e realizadas sessões de observação das interações entre os familiares em situações de livre escolha. Os resultados indicam que membros da família são as principais fontes de apoio social, os familiares possuem baixos índices de stress e um bom ajustamento marital. As interações ocorreram predominantemente em 'Grupo', com 'Amistosidade', 'Sincronia' e 'Supervisão', sendo a maior parte das atividades 'Lúdicas', seguidas por 'Conversar'.

Adult epileptic patients’ perception of social support during rational antiepileptic therapy

The problem of stigmatization of a patient with epilepsy is frequently essential in restricting the capacities of his social performance. Society is often unready to recognize an epileptic patient as its equal member. The authors consider the main sources of social support (SS) to patients with epilepsy: the patient’s family takes first place; friends and other important persons also play a major role. The perception of SS has been found to be related to the number of used antiepileptic drugs and the hemispheric lateralization of a leading epileptic focus.

Investigation of life quality and social support of patients with hypertension and cerebral hemorrhage

Objective To explore the life quality and social support of patients with hypertension and cerebral hemorrhage so as to provide basis for implementation of clinically medical work and nursing care.Methods By using SF-36 and SSRS questionnaire, 60 inpatients with hypertension and cerebral hemorrhage were investigated for life quality and social support respectively. Results The inpatients with hypertension and cerebral hemorrhage had lower life quality on all eight scales of the SF-36, only personal functions (PF) wasgood in all scales. The score of SSRS of them was lower than that of normal personal. The main source of social support in the inpatients was family, but the main source of social support they wanted to obtain included economic support and mental support of family. Conclusions The inpatients with hypertension and cerebral hemorrhage have lower quality of life. To cerebral hemorrhage patient, the full social security mechanism, the close relative relative's moral encouragement and medical personnel's instruction, plusing patient initiative treatment and the functional training, may maximumly enhance patient's self-confidence, avoid bad mood, and guarantee patient's quality of life. Key words: Hypertension and cerebral hemorrhage; Life quality; Social support; Nursing intervention

Relationship of Social Network Size to Infant Birth Weight in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Women

The "Latina paradox" describes the phenomenon of women born in Mexico having their babies in the US deliver fewer low birth weight babies than White US born women. Social support and networks have been suggested as factors in this paradox. Network size was included in Utah's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Survey (PRAMS) for 4 years. Through an analysis of linked Birth Certificate and PRAMS data, the relationship between birth weight and social networks of four groups of women were examined. Perhaps due to Utah's unique population characteristics and service-oriented culture, the "Latina paradox" was not demonstrated. However, the study did demonstrate that specific social network size options were positively associated with birth weight, and husbands in either culture (White or Hispanic) appear to be the main source of social support. In addition, this study reinforced the importance of carefully planned and executed surveys that are culturally appropriate.

The meaning of quality of life in patients being treated for advanced breast cancer: a qualitative study.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the meaning of advanced breast cancer patients' quality of life (QoL). A semi-structured interview was used, and the phenomenological research method chosen to analyse the data. The findings show that limitations in physical functioning translate into dependency on others, leading to decreased autonomy. Patients tended to ensure their autonomy by participating in easier activities or changing their internal standards. Changes in appearance and decreased condition affected patients' ability to carry out roles and responsibilities, which led to changes in lifestyle and also affected patients' social functioning, often resulting in isolation. The meaning of being able to sustain reciprocal relationships was emphasized. Patients maintained control of to what extent their illness was recognized in social relationships, which was crucial to their feelings of autonomy. Close families were a main source of social support, but also a major source of concern. Meaning of emotional functioning was often expressed in terms of the ability to enjoy life day-by-day and of commitment to treatment. Patients' cognitive functioning was largely intact while their difficulties in cognitive functioning were more characteristic of anxiety. Global QoL was often expressed in terms of a normal life. In addition there were 3 meta themes which emerged from the data: the patients' ability to control the illness experience, personal growth and hope.

Isolation in blood and marrow transplantation.

This phenomenological study explored the perceptions of 20 patients who had undergone an autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Transcripts from interviews were analyzed for themes. Three themes emerged related to the experience of isolation during and after ABMT: physical isolation (protecting self and others), emotional isolation (protecting self and others), and physical and emotional isolation (supporting self and others). During physical isolation, participants were protected from infection and tried to protect family and friends from emotional burden. However, physical isolation often led to emotional isolation, which the physical presence of others ameliorated, particularly when an emotional presence was coexistent. Emotional presence was a main source of social support. Participants felt family and friends needed more guidance on ways to provide effective support. An important implication for health care professionals is that emotional support in the form of positive presencing should accompany providing information to both patients and family members.

10.3917/dm.111.0177

10.3917/dm.111.0177