Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Research Articles

"They Just Love Me"-An Examination of Social Support Experiences and Values Among People With TBI.

Social support is important for health and functional outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI), but many adults with TBI report inadequate social support. Little research has examined the social support priorities of adults with TBI or what an optimal social support network should include. The objective of this study was to describe the social support structures and experiences of adults with TBI. Community-based rehabilitation program. Community-dwelling adults with TBI, predominantly from racial and ethnic minority groups. Cross-sectional collection of quantitative and qualitative data. Number of close social contacts and total social contacts, along with a report of the frequency of social support using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. Qualitative interviews were used to examine the quality of social support and participant values and priorities. Participants had an average of 4.3 close contacts (median 3.5, range 1-10), an average of 8.5 total social contacts (median 7, range 2-28), and a low frequency of social support (mean 28.4, SD=24.7). Interview themes fell under 2 grand themes: structure of social networks (social networks are made up of families; proximity influences the type of support) and quality of social support (commitment vs indifference; doing things with and for others adds meaning; and "they just love me"). Participants in this study had small social networks and a low frequency of social support. Findings suggest that people with TBI value committed support partners, social inclusion, bidirectional relationships, and emotional connection, yet experience lower support in these areas compared to tangible support. Future research should examine how to adapt existing models of social support to more closely align with participant values. Rehabilitation services may need to focus more heavily on individual and family training, addressing strategies to develop and maintain relationships, emotional connection, and communication to enhance relationship and social support quality.

Social support and medication adherence among adult myasthenia gravis patients in China: the mediating role of mental health and self-efficacy

BackgroundMyasthenia gravis (MG), a rare chronic neuromuscular disorder, is characterized by progressive physical decline and requires long-term pharmacological treatment. Due to the decline of physical and social abilities, MG patients are in great need of social support, including tangible and emotional support. This study aims to examine the association between social support and medication adherence and the possible mediating effects of mental health and self-efficacy among MG patients.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis of a nationwide MG registry was conducted on 865 patients under oral medication treatment in China between June and July 2022. Validated scales were used to measure the respondent’s mental distress (Four-item Patient Health Questionnaire), social support (Modified Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Scale), self-efficacy for medication use (Self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale), and medication adherence (Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, MMAS).ResultsThe association between social support and medication adherence and possible mediating effects of mental distress and self-efficacy were tested by structural equation model, with significant demographic and disease-related factors adjusted. The respondents showed a very low level of medication adherence (71.2% poor adherence; 1.4% high adherence; mean MMAS = 4.65). The level of social support was positively associated with medication adherence, and such association was fully mediated by two indirect pathways: through self-efficacy (β = 0.07, proportion mediated = 63.8%); and through mental distress and then self-efficacy (β = 0.01, proportion mediated = 6.7%).ConclusionProvision of social support and interventions on mental health with emphasis on improving self-efficacy for medication use may effectively improve medication adherence among MG patients.

Associations of Social Support With Physical and Mental Health Symptom Burden After COVID-19 Hospitalization Among Older Adults.

Despite significant support system disruptions during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, little is known about the relationship between social support and symptom burden among older adults following COVID-19 hospitalization. From a prospective cohort of 341 community-living persons aged ≥60 years hospitalized with COVID-19 between June 2020 and June 2021 who underwent follow-up at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge, we identified 311 participants with ≥1 follow-up assessment. Social support prehospitalization was ascertained using a 5-item version of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (range, 5-25), with low social support defined as a score ≤15. At hospitalization and each follow-up assessment, 14 physical symptoms were assessed using a modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment System inclusive of COVID-19-relevant symptoms. Mental health symptoms were assessed using Patient Health Questionnaire-4. Longitudinal associations between social support and physical and mental health symptoms, respectively, were evaluated through multivariable regression. Participants' mean age was 71.3 years (standard deviation, 8.5), 52.4% were female, and 34.2% were of Black race or Hispanic ethnicity. 11.8% reported low social support. Over the 6-month follow-up period, low social support was independently associated with higher burden of physical symptoms (adjusted rate ratio [aRR], 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.52), but not mental health symptoms (aRR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.85-1.53). Low social support is associated with greater physical, but not mental health, symptom burden among older survivors of COVID-19 hospitalization. Our findings suggest a potential need for social support screening and interventions to improve post-COVID-19 symptom management in this vulnerable group.

Depression in pregnant Hispanic women: Risk factors, pregnancy outcomes and plasma cytokines

BackgroundMaternal depression is considered a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in pregnancy. A population at risk are U.S. born or immigrant Hispanic women, and few prenatal depression or immune studies have focused on this population. ObjectiveThe research questions for the study were 1) What are the occurrences, risk factors and outcomes associated with depression in Hispanic pregnant women in the United States and 2) What are the associations of plasma immune cytokines and prenatal depression in this population. Study designWomen of self-reported Hispanic ethnicity were born in the continental United States or foreign-born. Screening of potential participants (n = 690) at a first prenatal clinic visit consisted of antibody testing for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in a larger grant, and only the women with antibody levels below the cutoff for T. gondii positivity (N = 536) were included in the present study. All participants completed a health and demographic questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression (EPDS) scale, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support (MOS) scale. We surveyed electronic health records (EHR) for risk factors and adverse pregnancy outcomes in the sample. We further measured physical and mental health and seven plasma immune cytokines at four study visits during pregnancy in a longitudinal subsample (N = 128). ResultsThe frequency of EPDS scores of 10 (depression risk) or above was 18.6 % at the time of enrollment. Socioeconomic factors such as less education, greater unemployment, and U.S. born nativity were associated with greater depression risk, but these relationships became insignificant when we corrected for false discovery rate. Depression scores were not associated with adverse birth and pregnancy outcomes. The inflammatory cytokine TNF-α was significantly higher across pregnancy in women with depression risk (p < 0.03). Other inflammatory cytokines were higher in depressed women, but only at one time point in mid-pregnancy. ConclusionsPrenatal depression occurs in early pregnancy and then declines in Hispanic women. The frequency of depression and stress were higher in U.S. born compared to immigrant Hispanic women. There was an elevation in plasma levels of TNF-α through the pregnancy in depressed women, and elevations in other cytokines, at midpregnancy. The adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm delivery, known to be associated with prenatal depression were not present in this cohort.

Contextual Factors Matter: The Role of Social Support in Work-Related Difficulties and Employment Status in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) have reported a higher unemployment rate compared to the general population. The complexity of environmental-contextual factors, such as structural and functional social support, may influence employment status (ES). Objectives: to study the relationship between perceived social support and ES, assess the effects of potential mediators, and analyze how these predictors influence components of ES, including absenteeism, work harassment, negative work events, and the use of accommodations. Material and Method: 90 PwMS were recruited. A single-visit assessment included: the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), the Buffalo Vocational Monitoring Survey, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), patient-reported outcomes measuring depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), and the EDSS. Results: Sixty-three (70%) of PwMS were employed. Mediation analysis revealed the involvement of BDI-II and SDMT in the relationship between social support and ES. The functional social support of friends had a significant effect on absenteeism and NWEs. Total functional support was related to harassment, while family support had a significant effect on accommodations. Conclusion: These results show that structural and functional social support, in relation to the clinical variables of the disease, increase the probability of employment and a better quality of work.

Investigating gender differences in quality of life and social support in patients with severe mental illnesses.

Severe mental illnesses (SMIs), including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder affect patients significantly. Gender has been identified as a key factor influencing the experience of SMIs with notable disparities in prevalence, symptoms, and treatment outcomes. Additionally, the quality of life (QoL) and social support for patients with SMIs can vary based on gender. This study examined gender differences in QoL and social support of patients with SMIs. Participants include 170 outpatients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder at Shafa Hospital (2021). QoL and social support were assessed using World Health Organization QoL (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire and Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), respectively. Group differences were analyzed using t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, and two-way multivariate analyses of variance explored the effect of gender and disease type. It was indicated that females with schizophrenia reported higher QoL than males, but the opposite was observed for bipolar disorder. Gender differences in social support were not significant among schizophrenia patients, nor between the two patient groups. However, women with bipolar disorder and multiple hospitalizations experienced lower social support and QoL compared to men. Additionally, more hospitalizations were associated with decreased QoL in both genders with schizophrenia. Findings suggest the need for gender- specific interventions and support policies to enhance QoL and social support in patients with SMI.

Psychosocial predictors of mobility assistive devices non-adherence among older adults

Background: Mobility assistive devices (MADs) provide support to older adults to improve their quality of life; however, research shows that as many as 75% of older adults are non-adherent to prescribed MADs. This study investigated the psychosocial factors that predict non-adherence to MADs among older adults.Methods: A sample of Canadian older adult MADs users who resided in a long-term care facility was included. The data was collected using the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS), and the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (mMOS-SS). Data analysis was performed using SPSS 28. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample and the study variables. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the association between the study variables. Variables that were associated with non-adherence in a univariate analysis were subsequently entered into a multiple regression analysis.Results: The sample comprised 48 residents (26 females and 22 males), with a mean age of 86.8. In the univariate analysis, scores from the three PIADS subscales, namely, Competence, Adaptability, and Self-esteem, and the Social Support scale were significantly correlated with non-adherence (p < 0.05). In the multiple regression analyses, only Self-esteem significantly predicted non-adherence (p < 0.05), and this model explained between 43.5 and 54.3% of the variance in non-adherence.Conclusion: This study revealed that the Self-esteem construct, which includes several concepts related to psychological well-being, was the only significant predictor of non-adherence among the studied sample of older adults. The clinical implications of the findings are subsequently discussed.

"I am not the same as before": a mixed-methods study on depression in people with spinal injury in Qatar.

The objectives of the study were to determine depression prevalence; identify relationships between depression and cause and site of spinal injury, sociodemographic factors, and social support; and explore the lived experiences of depression in people with spinal injury in Qatar. A sequential cross-sectional mixed methods study was conducted. In the quantitative component, the universal sample consisted of 106 consenting individuals presenting with spinal injury at Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar between January and December 2020. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to assess levels of depression and the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey was used to assess perceived social support. The cause and site of injury were obtained from patient records. In the qualitative component, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 purposively selected participants from the quantitative component. Spinal injury had a negative impact on participants physical, mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing. In total, 69% of participants had some level of depression: 28% mild, 25.5% minimal, and 15% moderate to severe. Depression was not associated with socio-demographic factors, or the cause or site of spinal injury. Higher levels of emotional/informational support and positive social interaction were associated with milder depression. Social support and religious faith were critical in assisting participants to cope with their new situation. Depression is prevalent among people with spinal injury attending health services. Early detection, referral, and treatment of depression are recommended. Strategies to enhance emotional/informational support and positive social interaction should be developed and tested with people with spinal injury.

Social support during re-entry period and long-term quality of life in breast cancer survivors: a 10-year longitudinal cohort study.

This study evaluated the association between social support during the re-entry period and long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in breast cancer survivors using a longitudinal cohort study. This is a prospective cohort study with 275 breast cancer survivors who reported HRQoL at 5 and 10years after diagnosis. Social support for the re-entry period was measured 3years after diagnosis using the Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS). HRQoL was evaluated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and Breast Cancer-Specific Module (BR-23). Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate HRQoL at 5 and 10years after diagnosis by level of social support during the re-entry period. The mean (SD) of social support during re-entry period was 68.5. The low social support (LSS, score < 55) group during the re-entry period had a significantly lower HRQoL (mean difference = - 12.93) compared to moderate or high social support (MHSS, score ≥ 55) group. 5 and 10years after diagnosis, the LSS group continued to demonstrate lower HRQoL (5years: - 7.17; 10years: - 7.85) compared to the MHSS group. The LSS group were more likely to have lower role and social function scores, and higher fatigue, pain, and financial problems compared to the MHSS group at 10years after diagnosis. Breast cancer survivors who received lower social support during the re-entry period were more likely to experience poorer HRQoL in the long term than those who did not.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the medical outcome study social support survey among mothers of children aged 6–23 months in Indonesia

BackgroundSocial support significantly influences a mother's adherence to complementary feeding guidelines, with family support fostering a positive attitude towards this practice. The Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) is a multidimensional scale designed to evaluate functional aspects of social support, but no instrument has been validated for Indonesia. PurposeThe study aims to validate the MOS-SSS instrument for measuring mothers' social support in providing complementary food to infants and young children aged 6–23 months in Indonesia. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted on 196 mothers with children aged 6–23 months in West Sumatera, Indonesia. The MOS-SSS's internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach alpha, composite reliability, and split-half analysis, while its construct validity was evaluated using convergent and discriminant validity. ResultsThe Indonesian version of the MOS-SSS among mothers with children aged 6–23 months has been found to be satisfactory in content validity through translation and expert review. The questionnaire exhibits strong convergent and discriminant validity, reliable construct reliability, and internal consistency. Conclusions and implicationsThe MOS-SSS questionnaire was found to be reliable and valid in measuring the social support mothers perceive in providing complementary feeding to their infants and young children. Future research should explore the psychometric properties of the Indonesian version of the MOS-SSS in various populations, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, and women with special conditions.

The influence of sense of coherence on psychological birth trauma: a parallel mediation model based on health Salutogenesis theory.

Psychological birth trauma has been associated with a variety of negative consequences for mothers, partners, newborns, and midwives. While prior research has identified demographic and clinical factors that may contribute to the development of psychological birth trauma, interventions targeting these factors can prove challenging. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore how psychological birth trauma is influenced by psychosocial factors including Sense of Coherence, Childbirth-related Fear, Social Support and Childbirth Readiness. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 13 tertiary or secondary hospitals in mainland China from November 2021 to June 2022. One thousand three hundred and sixty-six women were recruited totally. Data regarding basic characteristics, Sense of Coherence (SOC, Sense of Coherence Scale-3), Childbirth-related Fear (CBRF, Fear of Childbirth Scale), Social Support (SS, Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey), Childbirth Readiness (CR, Childbirth Readiness Scale) and Psychological Birth Trauma (PBT, Psychological Birth Trauma Scale) were collected. Parallel mediation analysis was adopted to identify the underlying mechanisms between study variables. It was found that: (1) SOC has been found to have both direct and indirect effects on PBT. Women with higher level of SOC tend to report lower level of PBT; (2) the indirect effect of SOC on PBT was significantly exerted through CBRF, SS and CR; (3) CBRF was found to weaken the protective effect of SOC, whereas SS and CR were found to enhance it. No significant difference was found in contracts of the three specific indirect effects. SOC, CBRF, SS, and CR should be paid enough attention when designing intervention programs for women who might experience PBT. Interventions targeting SOC and CR are more likely to yield positive outcomes.

Understanding the Role of Social Support in the Adherence to the Hypertension Continuum of Care in Cambodia

Introduction: Hypertension (HTN) is a major public health problem and a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases and deaths globally. A continuum of HTN care is necessary for people living with HTN since this chronic disease requires comprehensive life-long healthcare management. Several studies have examined the factors influencing the adherence to HTN care. Socio-demographic and economic characteristics are commonly studied as influencing factors of each step of the cascade of HTN care, yet little is known about the effect of social support on the cascade of HTN care. Therefore, our study aims to assess the role of social support on the cascade of HTN care in Cambodia.&#x0D; Method: We performed a population-based survey (5070 individuals aged over 40 and over) to generate a cascade of care for HTN and assess the levels of social support in Cambodia. The cascade shows the patients’ flow in the health system and where they are lost (dropped) along all steps of the cascade from (i) prevalence, (ii) screening, (iii) diagnosis, (iv) treatment in the last 12 months, (v) treatment in the last 3 months, (vi) to being under control. Social support was assessed using the 8-item Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the effect of social support (from a family member) on each step of the cascade.&#x0D; Results: Among people living with HTN, 22.4%, 27.0%, 21.6% and 28.9% reported receiving low, medium, high and very high levels of social support respectively. Higher levels of social support were found in female adults, married adults, adults aged over 60, as well as those living in a household of 4 to 5 members and those receiving some or having completed primary education. Participants who received medium and very high levels of social support had two times the odds of receiving treatment for HTN as participants with low levels of support both in the last 12 months and the last 3 months. While, participants who had high level of social support had five times the odds of receiving treatment for HTN (both in the last 12 and 3 months) as participants with low levels of social support. &#x0D; Conclusion: Social support from a family member is strongly associated with treatment compliance in the HTN cascade of care in Cambodia. Our findings suggest an exploration of using social support as a tool to promote adherence to treatment programs for HTN care.&#x0D; Implication for applicability/transferability &#x0D; Families are a potential source of social support for hypertensive patients to overcome social barriers and execute disease management tasks especially for treatment compliance. Promoting social support through a social intervention could be a viable path to improve care for hypertensive patients since chronic illness care poses challenges for isolated patients, but could be made easier with the assistance from family.

SOCIAL SUPPORT, MENTAL HEALTH, AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION: A STUDY OF THREE TIME POINTS IN THE CLSA

Abstract Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older adults exhibit mental health disparities stemming from a lifetime accumulation of minority stress experiences. Psychological resources like social support may buffer against these poor mental health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine indicators of depression and social support by sexual orientation over time in a sample of Canadian adults ages 45-85. We used data collected at three time points in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA; baseline, 2011-2015; follow-up 1, 2015-2018; and follow-up 2, 2018-2021). Depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CESD-10) and social support was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS). For depression symptoms (n=38,244; 830 LGB), results indicated a significant effect of sexual orientation (F(2, 38242)=35.93, p&amp;lt;.001) such that LGB participants had more depression symptoms than heterosexual participants. There was also a significant effect of time on depression symptoms (F(2, 38242)=26.07, p&amp;lt;.001); mean depression scores decreased over time. For social support (n=35,795; 770 LGB), results indicated a significant effect of sexual orientation (F(2, 35794)=45.31, p&amp;lt;.001) such that LGB participants reported lower levels of social support than heterosexual participants. There was also a significant effect of time (F(2, 35794)=5.98, p=.003); the mean scores for social support increased over time. The potential role of social support in moderating depression symptoms will be discussed. This study adds to our understanding of potential protective factors influencing the mental health of older LGB people.

Correlates of malnutrition in patients with heart failure: the role of social support.

Heart failure (HF) is a major public health challenge. Malnutrition has a significant effect on HF prognosis. Understanding the impact of social and clinical factors on the risk of malnutrition is necessary because it may aid in improving the health status of HF patients. Three hundred twenty patients with HF who were hospitalized in a heart centre in Shiraz, Iran, from March to November 2022 were studied. Two validated questionnaires were used to evaluate malnutrition and social support: (1) Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short Form and (2) Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. The participants were then divided into three groups: those with normal nutritional status (scores 12-14), those at risk of malnutrition (scores 7-11), and those who were malnourished (scores 0-6). The potential correlates of malnutrition (including socio-demographic, clinical, comorbidities, and laboratory factors) were included in the study. Then, ordinal logistic regression was used to investigate the correlates of malnutrition. The mean age of the participants was 64.2±11.2years, and more than half were male and married. Normal nutritional status was seen in 110 (34.4%) participants, 151 (47.2%) were at risk of malnutrition, and 58 (18.1%) were malnourished. The mean social support score of the participants was 61.65±12.91. According to the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) obtained from multivariate analysis, increased risk of malnutrition was associated with having a lower social support score [0.95 (0.93-0.97), P-value≤0.001], lower body mass index [0.91 (0.86-0.97), P-value=0.004], higher New York Heart Association classification [1.26 (1.02-1.56), P-value=0.03], longer duration of disease [1.006 (1.001-1.01), P-value=0.006], and lower serum albumin level [0.25 (0.08-0.75), P-value=0.01]. Besides the clinical conditions affecting the risk of malnutrition in patients with HF, social support may play an important role. Including this factor in HF guidelines and developing educational programmes may help improve HF patients' health.

Longitudinal Associations of Social Support and Gait Speed Decline

AbstractBackgroundSocial support predicts functional and cognitive decline and is associated with brain regions that are important for both cognitive, and motor functions. Gait speed declines years before dementia onset, but the associations between social support and gait speed decline in aging is not well understood. This study examined longitudinal associations between social support and gait speed in older adults without dementia.MethodSocial support and gait data from 592 older adults without dementia (Mdn age 75 years, IQR 71,80, 55.3% female, 79.1% Caucasian) enrolled in the Central Control of Mobility in Aging (CCMA) study was examined. Overall support, emotional support, tangible support, affectional support, and positive social interactions, from the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey at baseline were the predictors of interest. Annual change in simple (walking at normal pace) and complex (walking while reciting alternate letters of the alphabet) gait speed (cm/s) were the primary outcomes. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the associations between change in single and complex gait speed and baseline social support, adjusting for gender, race, depression, overall cognition, comorbidities, and marital status.ResultThe mean annual change in gait speed was 1.9 cm/s during the simple walking condition and 1.07 cm/s during the complex walking condition. Tangible support was the only social support measure that predicted decline in simple and complex gait speed over a median follow up of 3 years. The annual decline in gait speed was 0.52 cm/s (p = 0.008, CI ‐0.91, ‐0.13) and 0.51 cm/s (p = 0.02, CI ‐0.95, ‐0.07) greater among those with low tangible support than among those with high tangible support during simple and complex walking conditions, respectively.ConclusionTangible support is a potentially modifiable risk factor for gait speed decline Further study is needed to examine the mechanisms behind the observed associations and potentials for intervention.This research was supported by NIH/National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) Einstein‐Montefiore CTSA Grant Number KL2 TR002558

Social support, plasma amyloid, and cognitive function: Findings on cognitive resilience from the African Americans Fighting Alzheimer’s in Midlife (AA‐FAIM) study

AbstractBackgroundEpidemiological evidence suggests that excess risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in minoritized populations is preventable. Social connectedness associates with reduced ADRD risk: plausible mechanisms include (I) direct influence on AD pathology, and (II) indirect influence through cognitive reserve processes. Inclusive, resilience‐focused ADRD research will accelerate equitable translation into communities facing high disease burden. In a richly characterized sample of Black middle‐aged and older adults, we explored (i) associations between social support and cognition, and (ii) moderation of those relationships by plasma amyloid level.MethodParticipants (N = 118) enrolled in AA‐FAIM through the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) or Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC). Participants were cognitively healthy, and had plasma amyloid, neuropsychological, and psychosocial data from at least one visit. Multivariable linear regression models assessed cross‐sectional predictor‐outcome relationships. The key predictor was perceived availability of social support, self‐reported via the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS‐SS). Cognitive outcomes included performance on tests of (a) speed and flexibility and (b) episodic memory. Cognitive reserve mechanisms were tested with a model term interacting social support scores with plasma Aβ42/40 ratio (C2N, USA) to predict cognition.ResultTable 1 provides sample characteristics. In adjusted models (Table 2), MOS‐SS scores positively associated with episodic memory performance, but not speed and flexibility. However, MOS‐SS*amyloid interaction was significant in this domain; greater support predicted better mental flexibility most substantially in the presence of accumulated amyloid pathology. Small samples limit precision when plasma Aβ42/40 ratio is dichotomized, but for visualization purposes the interaction between MOS‐SS and amyloid positivity is presented (Figure 1).ConclusionGreater availability of a modifiable resource, social support, predicted better cognitive health within this small sample of Black participants. Mechanisms and implications vary by cognitive domain. For episodic memory, cognitive benefits are consistent across amyloid level. In mental flexibility, social support contributes to cognitive reserve, with noteworthy benefits for participants with elevated AD pathology. Future studies must examine additional ADRD neuropathologies, and in larger samples. Nonetheless, we provide preliminary evidence that facilitating social connection is a promising mitigation strategy, acting via multiple pathways to reduce ADRD‐related impairment in a community experiencing disproportionate risk.

Social support and religiosity in bipolar disorder individuals in euthymic phase

ABSTRACT The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between social support and religiosity in bipolar disorder patients in the recovery phase of the disorder. We assessed 180 bipolar outpatients with the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Scale and the Duke Religion Index. Most of the bipolar disorder outpatients did not attend group activities. We did not find any correlation between total social support and religiosity domains, but higher non-organizational religiosity was associated with higher emotional/informational functional social support. Finally, we found that non-organizational religiosity was positively correlated with emotional/informational functional social support. Further research might explore better understanding social support and religiosity through its different dimensions.

Social participation in older people with hearing impairment in Chinese community: A latent profile analysis

ObjectivesHearing impairment may lead to increased communication difficulties for older people, making their social participation less optimistic. However, there is little research on the social participation of older people with hearing impairment, especially based on the characteristics of their social participation. This study aimed to identify different social participation profiles in older people with hearing impairment and to explore sociodemographic characteristics, disease-related characteristics and psychosocial factors with different social participation profiles. MethodsA cross-sectional study of 300 older people with hearing impairment using the sociodemographic questionnaire, the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire, the Lubben Social Network Scale-6, Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey and Geriatric Depression Scale-15 from May to August 2023 in a community of Beijing, China. Latent profile analysis was used to analyse the latent profiles of social participation in elderly with hearing impairment. Multiple logistic regression was used to explore the predictors of different profiles. ResultsThe social participation of older people with hearing impairment in the community can be classified into three potential profiles: Profile 1 - high social participation group (76.05 %), Profile 2 - moderate social participation group (17.34 %), Profile 3 - low social participation group (6.61 %). Age, types of chronic diseases, self-reported health, severity of hearing impairment, social network, social support and depression were predictors of different profiles. ConclusionsNurses should pay attention to the characteristics, depression, social network and support of older people with different hearing impairment to improve social participation in different profiles. Implications and recommendationsThis was the first study exploring latent profiles of social participation in older people with hearing impairment. Insights from this study are useful for gerontological nursing to distinguish different profiles and further identify the characteristics of different profiles in older people with hearing impairment by characterizing the level of social participation in the community and better implement interventions according to profiles.

Network analysis of the relationship between social support and quality of life in patients with epilepsy

BackgroundIdentifying important types of social support for patients with epilepsy is valuable to construct an effective system for support in daily life. However, previous studies have been inconsistent in identifying the most important types of social support for better quality of life (QOL) due to the high correlations between the social support factors. The present study employed network visualization analysis to identify the relationships between QOL and types of social support. MethodsTwo hundred and eighty-three patients with epilepsy (age range: 18 to 75 years) completed questionnaires of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) and the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31-Problems in the epilepsy monitoring unit at Tohoku University. The MOS-SSS was established to measure the four types of social support including emotional/informational support, tangible support, affectionate support, and positive social interaction. Our network visualization analysis represented the entire structure of the interrelationships between the four functions of social support and QOL. In addition, the relative importance of each function of social support were estimated by the centrality indices using three commonly used centrality indices: strength, betweenness, and closeness. ResultsThe visualized network showed that positive social interaction and emotional/informational support were directly associated with QOL, whereas tangible support and affectionate support were not. Positive social interaction had the highest value for all three centrality indices and affectionate support had the second highest. Therefore, positive social interaction had the strongest connection to the other functions of support. DiscussionOur network analysis and centrality indices findings showed that positive social interaction is the most important within the network of four types of social support and QOL. The emotional informational function is also important for directly improving QOL but is less related to the other functions. The affectionate function might be an indicator of whether a patient has a foundational relationship that leads to other functions of support. ConclusionThese results showed the importance of increasing positive social interaction in the social environment of patients with epilepsy. Therefore, practitioners need to encourage patients with epilepsy to increase their positive social interactions such as doing something enjoyable with others or someone to associate for relaxation to ensure high QOL. Connections outside the epilepsy support are important, such as having fun regardless of epilepsy, rather than only providing emotional or tangible support for epilepsy.

Is Social Support Associated with Colorectal Cancer Care Utilization? A Multilevel Mixed-Effects Model of a Cross-Sectional Cohort Study in Vietnam.

To investigate the relationship between the social support (SS) and colorectal cancer (CRC) care utilization of patients in the central region of Vietnam. This was a cross-sectional cohort study in which the cohort was defined as all residential patients diagnosed with CRC in a tertiary hospital, Hue Central Hospital (HCH), in central Vietnam from 2013 to 2019. Social support was considered the main independent variable and was evaluated using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), a self-administered 19-item SS survey. MOS-SSS is a widely used scale for assessing social support in CRC patients because it is brief, easy to use, reliable, and valid. In this study, we considered a data framework with a multilevel structure that included the patient level and duration of diagnosis as the second level. We estimated the magnitude of SS and CRC-specific treatment modalities using multilevel mixed-effects (MM) models under a hierarchical approach. The findings indicated that CRC care utilization rates were 89.9%, 48.5%, and 30.6% for surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, respectively. The overall trend of SS decreased significantly and affected the CRC care utilization. We found a positive effects of overall SS, as well as emotional and tangible support, on the number of hospitalization admissions and chemotherapy utilization. This study suggests that the use of the MOS-SSS should be continued in the long term for CRC patients to enhance medical accessibility and care utilization.