Professional Social Support Research Articles

Elite Athletes Coping With Depression: A Qualitative Study

Little is known about the coping strategies used by elite athletes suffering from mental health issues. Therefore, this study examined coping strategies implemented by elite athletes facing clinical depression. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four elite athletes and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results present a broad picture of how elite athletes tried to cope with depression using a range of coping strategies. Among the different strategies highlighted, talking, seeking professional help and social support were particularly emphasized by the participants. Surprisingly, however, only one participant reported transferring the skills and strategies learned on her way to the top to many other aspects of her everyday life such as coping with her depression. Findings, therefore, suggest that athletes should be encouraged to transfer and make the most of the skills learned throughout their sport career to deal with their daily life. Future research perspectives and implications are discussed.

A qualitative study on the specific supportive care needs of patients with gynecological cancer

Objective To explore the specific supportive care needs of patients with gynecologic cancer, and provide evidence for health care personnel to assess and meet needs of patients with gynecologic cancer. Methods Using phenomenological research method, 24 women with gynecologic cancer were investigated by in-depth interview. Themes and sub-themes was extracted through content analysis. Results Three kinds of specific supportive care needs were found, including specific symptom management needs, spousal relationship consolidation needs and self-esteem maintaining needs, and there existed gaps between patients identified needs and actual acquisition from health care personnel. Conclusions Health care personnel should accurately assess the specific supportive care needs of patients with gynecologic cancer and then carry out targeted professional social support services to further meet patients' needs. Key words: Genital neoplasms; Female; Social support; Health services needs; Qualitative research

Senior citizens losing vision as a challenge to contemporary special education

Kornelia Czerwińska, Izabella Kucharczyk, Senior citizens losing vision as a challenge to contemporary special education. Interdisciplinary Contexts of Special Pedagogy, no. 25, Poznań 2019. Pp. 333-351. Adam Mickiewicz University Press. ISSN 2300-391X. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/ikps.2019.25.14
 Acquiring blindness or low vision at the senior age usually results in decreased quality of life due to a decrease in functional performance in the areas of activities of everyday activities, spatial orientation and mobility, physical activity, spending free time and obtaining information. Loss of vision also implies serious emotional consequences, which in the absence of professional therapeutic help and social support can lead to mental health disorders. Research analyses indicate that the level of satisfying rehabilitation needs of seniors who are losing vision is relatively low, and the specificity of their functioning resulting from the coexistence of various health problems is rarely included in support programs. The aim of the article is to indicate areas that have been so far neglected in the rehabilitation of elderly people who have acquired visual impairment and to formulate proposals aimed at increasing the availability and quality of therapeutic services for this social group.

An Exploration of Job Perceptions and Health Using an Integrative Approach

Abstract. Job perceptions and their relations with psychological and physical health were explored in a small group of military air traffic controllers (ATCOs) working in a test flight center. The participants rated dimensions of job requirements (psychological demands, overcommitment, work–family interferences), job resources (control, professional, and personal social support), and health indicators. The results show that the ATCOs in the study perceived their job as an active and demanding job but not in the same stressful way as civil ATCOs do. Some job requirement dimensions were positively associated with a number of health indicators. Overall and on-shift job resources were partially correlated, unlike overall and on-shift job requirements. Results favor an integrative approach of job perceptions.

Breast cancer survivors' preferences for social support features in technology-supported physical activity interventions: findings from a mixed methods evaluation.

Incorporating peer and professional social support features into remotely delivered, technology-supported physical activity interventions may increase their effectiveness. However, very little is known about survivors' preferences for potential social features. This study explored breast cancer survivors' preferences for both traditional (e.g., coaching calls and peer support) and innovative (i.e., message boards and competitions) social support features within remotely delivered, technology-supported physical activity interventions. Survivors [N = 96; Mage = 55.8 (SD = 10.2)] self-reported demographic and disease characteristics and physical activity. A subset (n = 28) completed semistructured phone interviews. Transcribed interviews were evaluated using a thematic content analysis approach and consensus review. Following interviews, the full sample self-reported preferences for social features for remotely delivered physical activity interventions via online questionnaires. Questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Four themes emerged from interview data: (a) technology increases social connectedness; (b) interest in professional involvement/support; (c) connecting with similar survivors; and (d) apprehension regarding competitive social features. Quantitative data indicated that most survivors were interested in social features including a coach (77.1 per cent), team (66.7 per cent), and exercise buddy (57.3 per cent). Survivors endorsed sharing their activity data with their team (80.0 per cent) and buddy (76.6 per cent), but opinions were mixed regarding a progress board ranking their activity in relation to other participants' progress. Survivors were interested in using a message board to share strategies to increase activity (74.5 per cent) and motivational comments (73.4 per cent). Social features are of overall interest to breast cancer survivors, yet preferences for specific social support features varied. Engaging survivors in developing and implementing remotely delivered, technology-supported social features may enhance their effectiveness.

Hold on Tight: Coping Strategies of Persons With Bipolar Disorder and Their Partners

ObjectiveTo explore coping strategies for persons with bipolar affective disorder and their partners.BackgroundBipolar disorder poses interpersonal and practical challenges for patients and their partners. Although the divorce rate is high among persons with bipolar disorder, few studies have examined how these people and their partners cope with the condition.Method11 persons with bipolar affective disorder and 10 partners of people with bipolar affective disorder were interviewed separately about coping. Data were analyzed using the grounded theory method.ResultsBoth patients and partners reported that coping strategies included professional help, social support, and emotional, instrumental, and religious coping strategies.ConclusionsPersons with bipolar disorder and their partners draw on similar coping strategies, but the former draw more on social support and instrumental coping strategies, and their partners draw on emotional coping strategies. Both members of the couple are dependent on the use of professional support—psychiatric, psychological, and psychosocial—when it is readily available and easily accessible, and this was a key aspect of coping with the disorder.ImplicationsClinical interventions should focus on providing support for partners, who are integral to the health and well‐being of persons with bipolar disorder and who experience substantial strain associated with their caregiving duties. Focusing on strategies to strengthen the spousal relationship is an essential aspect of care.

Predictors of Instructional Practices Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Home-Based Child Care Providers

Home-based child care is a widely-used form of child care. However, given its prevalence, there is little research examining the providers’ instructional practices and how these may vary by provider characteristics. The goal of this study is to describe variation in instructional practices among home-based child care providers and to examine predictors of instructional practices, including provider, program, and community characteristics. This study examines the instructional practices of listed and unlisted paid home-based child care providers using data from the National Survey of Early Care and Education through descriptive analyses and hierarchical multiple regression. Descriptive analyses suggest that providers across types report implementing learning activities, although this is more prevalent among listed providers. Results of a hierarchical multiple regression reveal that recent professional engagement predicts a higher frequency of planned learning activities for listed and unlisted paid providers, although the significant predictors are different for the two groups of providers. Home-based child care providers vary by provider type in the frequency of their instructional practices. Increasing access to professional development and social support opportunities may be an important strategy for supporting their implementation of educational activities with the children they serve. Additionally, different supports may be beneficial for listed and unlisted paid providers.

Sleep and biological parameters in professional burnout: A psychophysiological characterization.

Professional burnout syndrome has been described in association with insomnia and metabolic, inflammatory and immune correlates. We investigated the interest of exploring biological parameters and sleep disturbances in relation to burnout symptoms among white-collar workers. Fifty-four participants with burnout were compared to 86 healthy control participants in terms of professional rank level, sleep, job strain (Karasek questionnaire), social support, anxiety and depression (HAD scale). Fasting concentrations of glycaemia, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), total-cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein (CRP), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), and white blood cell (WBC) counts were assessed. Analysis of variance and a forward Stepwise Multiple Logistic Regression were made to identify predictive factors of burnout. Besides reporting more job strain (in particular job control p = 0.02), higher levels of anxiety (p<0.001), and sleep disorders related to insomnia (OR = 21.5, 95%CI = 8.8–52.3), participants with burnout presented higher levels of HbA1C, glycaemia, CRP, lower levels of 25(OH)D, higher number of leukocytes, neutrophils and monocytes (P<0.001 for all) and higher total-cholesterol (P = 0.01). In particular, when HbA1c is > 3.5%, the prevalence of burnout increases from 16.6% to 60.0% (OR = 4.3, 95%CI = 2.8–6.9). Strong significant positive correlation existed between HbA1C and the two dimensions (emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (r = 0.79 and r = 0.71, p<0.01)) of burnout. Models including job strain, job satisfaction, anxiety and insomnia did not predict burnout (p = 0.30 and p = 0.50). However, when HbA1C levels is included, the prediction of burnout became significant (P = 0.03). Our findings demonstrated the interest of sleep and biological parameters, in particular HbA1C levels, in the characterization of professional burnout.

Exploring the relative importance of work-organizational burnout risk factors in Belgian residents

ABSTRACTPrevious research has shown that residents are at risk for developing burnout. Most burnout measures focus on individual risk factors, although work-organizational-focused measures might be beneficial as well. This study analyzed the relative importance of positive and negative work-organizational stressors, according to residents themselves, with NVivo11. Eleven work-organizational themes were found with deductive reasoning and two themes, recognition and success experiences, were found inductively. Main positive stressors are professional development, receiving feedback, experiencing success, autonomy and social support. Main negative stressors are high workloads, role conflicts/ambiguity, long work hours, and a lack of feedback, a lack of social support, and a lack of professional development. Measures to improve residents’ well-being should not only focus on reducing workload and work hours. Our results suggest to allocate resources to improve supervisors’ skills, such as providing social support, feedback, and recognition. A better match between internship obligations and residents’ studies could also contribute positively to this purpose.

Supporting addictions affected families effectively (SAFE): a mixed methods exploratory study of the 5-step method delivered in Goa, India, by lay counsellors

Aims: To explore the effect of the relatives’ drinking on their family members, and the preliminary impact of the 5-step method intervention on the adverse effect of the relatives’ drinking on their family members.Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with eligible Affected Family Members (AFMs) (n = 30) to understand the effect of the relatives’ drinking on their family members. Subsequently, a different group of consecutive eligible AFMs (n = 21) received the five-step method from lay counsellors, with outcomes measured at baseline and 3 months after delivery of the first session, to examine the impact of the intervention on AFMs.Findings: In the in-depth interviews, the perceived impact of the relatives’ drinking on the AFM included substantial physical/emotional abuse, financial difficulties, shame, poor health, impaired interpersonal relationships and change in the AFM’s role in the family. In the case series, for AFMs who received at least one session of the intervention, there was significantly increased engaged coping, increased stress and increased professional social support; and in those who completed the intervention, there was significantly increased engaged coping, increased strain, and increased informal social support.Conclusions: Compared to developed countries, stresses experienced by AFMs in our study are somewhat qualitatively different. The impact of an un-adapted five-step method intervention is less helpful than found elsewhere; hence an adapted version of the five-step method which is responsive to the realities of the cultural context may be better suited to Indian settings.

Social Support Is a Predictor of Lower Stress and Higher Quality of Life and Resilience in Brazilian Patients With Colorectal Cancer

The well-being of patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC) is affected by psychological effects associated with cancer treatment. However, little is known about the impact of these psychological factors in Brazilian patients with CRC. The aim of this study was to determine whether perceived stress, social support, and resilience are associated with quality of life in urban Brazilian patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for CRC. This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 144 Brazilian CRC patients in an ambulatory oncology clinic. The participants completed 5 questionnaires: Demographics, Perceived Stress Scale 14, Social Support Satisfaction Scale, Resilience Scale, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires (C30 and CR29). Confirmatory factor analysis modeling and Cronbach's α were used to examine construct validity and internal consistency. We used the MPlus 3.0 to construct and validate the structural model. There was a moderate and positive effect of resilience on the physical, social, and emotional aspects of quality of life. Social support had a strong and positive direct effect on quality of life (ie, social, physical, social, and emotional). Social support had a negative effect on stress perception. Resilience was also negatively related to stress perception. Family support and professional social support are important factors for Brazilian CRC patients. Resilience is an important ally for patients. It is important for nurses to consider this when developing educational and psychological interventional strategies to reduce stress and ultimately improve quality of life in this population. Psychological factors that improve quality of life should be evaluated in patients undergoing treatment for cancer.

Does Professional or Social Network Support Meet the Needs of Victimized and Polyvictimized Youths in Sweden?

ABSTRACTThe authors use survey data on 2,160 young victims of crime and/or abuse in Sweden to examine whether professional psychosocial and/or social network support meets their needs. The results show that the likelihood of having sought and/or received professional psychosocial support increases with being a victim of more types of crime and/or abuse, as does the likelihood of experiencing anxiety and/or posttraumatic stress.

Impact of Social Processes in Online Health Communities on Patient Empowerment in Relationship With the Physician: Emergence of Functional and Dysfunctional Empowerment.

BackgroundSubstantial research demonstrates the importance of online health communities (OHCs) for patient empowerment, although the impact on the patient-physician relationship is understudied. Patient empowerment also occurs in relationship with the physician, but studies of OHCs mostly disregard this. The question also remains about the nature and consequences of this empowerment, as it might be based on the limited validity of some information in OHCs.ObjectiveThe main purpose of this study was to examine the impact of social processes in OHCs (information exchange with users and health professional moderators, social support, finding meaning, and self-expressing) on functional and dysfunctional patient empowerment in relationship with the physician (PERP). This impact was investigated by taking into account moderating role of eHealth literacy and physician’s paternalism.MethodAn email list–based Web survey on a simple random sample of 25,000 registered users of the most popular general OHC in Slovenia was conducted. A total of 1572 respondents completed the survey. The analyses were conducted on a subsample of 591 regular users, who had visited a physician at least once in the past 2 years. To estimate the impact of social processes in OHC on functional and dysfunctional PERP, we performed a series of hierarchical regression analyses. To determine the moderating role of eHealth literacy and the perceived physician characteristics, interactions were included in the regression analyses.ResultsThe mean age of the respondents in the sample was 37.6 years (SD 10.3) and 83.3% were females. Factor analyses of the PERP revealed a five-factor structure with acceptable fit (root-mean-square error of approximation =.06). Most important results are that functional self-efficacy is positively predicted by information exchange with health professional moderators (beta=.12, P=.02), information exchange with users (beta=.12, P=.05), and giving social support (beta=.13, P=.02), but negatively predicted with receiving social support (beta=−.21, P<.001). Functional control is also predicted by information exchange with health professional moderators (beta=.16, P=.005). Dysfunctional control and competence are inhibited by information exchanges with health professionals (beta=−.12, P=.03), whereas dysfunctional self-efficacy is inhibited by self-expressing (beta=−.12, P=.05). The process of finding meaning likely leads to the development of dysfunctional competences and control if the physician is perceived to be paternalistic (beta=.14, P=.03). Under the condition of high eHealth literacy, the process of finding meaning will inhibit the development of dysfunctional competences and control (beta=−.17, P=.01).ConclusionsSocial processes in OHCs do not have a uniform impact on PERP. This impact is moderated by eHealth literacy and physician paternalism. Exchanging information with health professional moderators in OHCs is the most important factor for stimulating functional PERP as well as diminishing dysfunctional PERP. Social support in OHCs plays an ambiguous role, often making patients behave in a strategic, uncooperative way toward physicians.

Suporte social parental e prevenção na primeira infância em contextos de adversidade: A perspetiva de profissionais de educação de infância e saúde mental no Brasil

Este estudo, qualitativo e exploratório, tem como objetivo conhecer as perceções de profissionais que trabalham em creche e em serviços de saúde mental para a infância (Centro de Atenção Psicossocial para a Infância – CAPSi) sobre as suas funções de suporte social parental em contextos de adversidade. Ambiciona, simultaneamente, identificar asrepresentações sobre parentalidade subjacentes a essas perceções.As instituições participantes servem famílias moradoras em favelas ou em condições de adversidade na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, no Brasil. Utilizaram-se entrevistas semiestruturadas e observação participante durante nove semanas. Foram entrevistados 17 profissionaiscuidadores de crianças, sendo seis na creche e 11 no CAPSi. Dificuldades na intervenção são atribuídas, pelos profissionais, ao contexto socioeconómico das famílias. Atitudes parentais negativas e coercitivas são normalizadas pelos profissionais no âmbito da cultura brasileira. Conclui-se pela necessidade de suporte social ao profissional de suportesocial parental formal à família em condição de adversidade socioeconómica no Brasil.

Personally Meaningful Rituals: A Way to Increase Compassion and Decrease Burnout among Hospice Staff and Volunteers.

Rituals can increase a sense of connectedness, meaning, and support, especially after the death of those for whom we care. Hospice staff may benefit from the use of personal rituals as they cope with the frequent deaths of their patients, ultimately aiming to provide compassionate care while minimizing burnout. This study investigated the role of personally meaningful rituals in increasing compassion and decreasing burnout among hospice staff and volunteers. An online survey was completed by members of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) which inquired about personal ritual practices, and included the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale to measure current levels of Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, and Secondary Traumatic Stress. Three hundred ninety hospice staff and volunteers from across 38 states completed the online survey. The majority of participants were Caucasian and female, with an average of nine years of experience in hospice and palliative care. The majority of hospice staff and volunteers used personally meaningful rituals after the death of their patients to help them cope (71%). Those who used rituals demonstrated significantly higher Compassion Satisfaction and significantly lower Burnout as measured by the ProQOL, with professional support, social support, and age playing significant roles as well. Rituals may be an important way to increase compassion and decrease burnout among hospice staff and volunteers. Organizations may benefit from providing training and support for personalized rituals among team members, especially new staff who may be at greater risk for burnout.

What makes supportive relationships supportive? The social climate in supported housing for people with psychiatric disabilities

ABSTRACTThe link between social support, well-being, and mental health has been established in numerous studies in a variety of disciplines since the 1970s. A specific type of support is professional social support for people with psychiatric disabilities living in the community. This study emphasizes the relationship between the professional and the person with psychiatric disability in supported housing. The results show that a supportive relationship involves a social climate with the following components: interest in the individuality, care/concern, and respect for the integrity of the individual. The results also indicate that the social climate has a crucial influence on perceived support, as exemplified by supportive and unsupportive types of relationship.

Perspectives of school-work transitions among youth with spina bifida, their parents and health care providers

Purpose Youth with disabilities encounter many challenges in finding employment and transitioning to post-secondary education. In this article, we explore the nature of school-work transitions for youth with spina bifida, which few studies have previously addressed. Method We conducted in-depth interviews with 44 participants (nine youth and 12 young adults with spina bifida, 11 parents and 12 clinicians). We analyzed our data using a qualitative content analysis approach. Results We identified several enablers to school-work transitions, including professional support, social support and school accommodations. Lacking such support created several challenges for youth with spina bifida. We also identified several barriers to school-work transitions, including lack of education and information on finances, housing and transportation; discrimination and stigma; and challenges coping with spina bifida at school and work. Conclusions Although some supports are available, youth with spina bifida encounter many challenges in transitioning to post-secondary education and employment. With clinicians at the helm, efforts should be put in place within the health and social services system to better prepare youth, as they transition to adulthood, to become connected to appropriate information and resources to help them to succeed in their school and employment goals.Implications for RehabilitationYouth with spina bifida encounter many challenges in transitioning to post-secondary education or work. Clinicians, educators and parents should continue to support youth with spina bifida in choosing their vocations, setting career goals and developing career plans.Starting from a young age, parents, clinicians and educators should help youth with spina bifida prepare for school work transitions by fostering their independence, life skills and self-management of spina bifida-related symptoms.Clinicians and educators should help connect youth with spina bifida to appropriate information and resources to support their school-work transitions, including information on finances, housing, transportation, school accommodations and employment supports.

Correlation of professional identity, general self-efficacy, social support and coping mode of clinical nurses

Objective To explore the correlation between coping mode and professional identity, self-efficacy, social support in clinical nurses, so as to provide references for nursing supervision. Methods A total of 142 clinical nurses were selected by convenience sampling in a grade three, first class hospital.Professional identity scale of nurses, GSES (general self-efficacy scale), social support and coping mode scale were used to conduct the investigation. Results Social support, self-efficacy had correlation with personal response level (r=0.325, 0.394; P<0.01). The interaction was statistically significant between Cognition of occupation and self-efficacy (β=-0.180, P<0.05) and Cognition of occupation and social support with individual negative response (β=0.220, P<0.05). Conclusions Clinical nurses with high social support, high self-efficacy show more positive response when they face setbacks and pressure. Effect of occupation Cognition on individual passive coping style is adjusted by social support degree. Key words: Nurse; Social support; Coping mode; Occupation Cognition; General self-efficacy

The need of professional social support of the families undergoing divorce

The article is based on the results of qualitative research on the importance of professional social support for the family that experienced divorce. The research participants were as follows: preschool children of N city attending social care day centre and parents (6 couples), who after undergoing the divorce had the need for social support provided by professional caseworkers. The research uses qualitative research method applied to survey with four persons that had undergone the divorce recently. The research has revealed that the major demand of these parents with preteen children was the necessity of professional educational, psychological, medical, legal, mediatory support as well as consultancies. The informants had obtained support on institutional level, which was provided during divorce by personnel of Family Practice Institute and Initial Healthcare and Mental Health Centres as well as caseworkers of the municipalities. The research has demonstrated that a family undergoing divorce is lacking successive and complex help.

Professional Social Support Levels That Physical Education Teachers Perceive in Educational Institutions in Turkey

IntroductionWorking conditions and social support given from organization have a significant impact on employees for working for a long time. Confidence of employees to their jobs is related to the things that they live. Autonomy of employees in the organization affects the level of social suport perceived by employees (Eisenbergerand etc., 1999: 1026-1040).While the concept of social support had been a defined and measured concept until the 1980s, the concept of organizational support has been a topic of discussion for nearly 70 years (Zagenczyk, 2006: 8). Social support can be defined as a perception that is related to supporting level of behaviors of individuals provided by social networks like school, close-friend, classmates, teacher, father and mother for increasing functions of individuals and/or providing a buffer zone against negative consequences (House & Kahn, 1985: 83, 108; Malecki & Demaray, 2006: 375-395). It is also regarded as social and psyhchological support (Yildirim, 1997: 81-87) that an individual gets from his/her environment. Social support can be said to be indispensable because it helps people to dissolve their problems, helps people to reduce stress, helps people to adopt to environment and make people to feel better psychologically.Social support is the primary determinant of one's own characteristic. A family member can perceive all of other family members as a supporter or an obstacle. The second determinant of the perceived support is the person whom support taken from. The person who provides social support doesn't get as much attention as the person who perceives social support in the literature. However, perceptions of support may reflect the characteristic of the person whom support taken from. The third determinant of the perceived support is interaction between the person who perceives support and the person whom support taken from. This special interaction reflects the special situation between two people (Yalcin, 2004: 45). Perceived social support can be evaluated as perceptions and expectations that can be taken from reliable individulas around him/her when needed.The buffer effect model and the main effect model have been proposed as two basic models about in which situations social support is necessary. The buffer effect model based on idea of providing source from the individuals in the social support network in order to overcome problems when faced stressful events. According to the main affect model, social support sources are effective factors on the protection of individulas' psychological and physical health without considering whether the individual is under stress or not (Krespi, 1993; Cohen & Wills, 1985: 310-357).When evaluated in terms of teachers, social support offers facilities for professional dialogue and cooperation between colleagues and offers solutions to understanding and solving problems at schools. In this cooperation and support process, teachers help and support each other more (Kroger, 1995: 545-551). Teachers are able to cooperate and support each other inside and outside the classroom through formal and informal ways. Systems that provide support for teachers can be classified as group directed by outside consultant, teacher support team and teacher support groups for individual teachers. Informal approach between colleagues may take place during coffee and tea breaks, in the corridor or in any social environment. This informal support is also important in the formation of collaborative environment in the school. The formal approaches for cooperation of colleagues are coaching and mentoring applications (Creese and etc., 1998: 109-114; Berardi & Hall, 2007; Tastan, 2008: 114). Because teaching profession is a quite stressful profession, teachers' perception of professional social support is very important. When teachers face irrelevant and low-motivated students in classrooms and receive low supports for improving their working conditions they may feel lonely. …