Reciprocity Of Social Support Research Articles

Reciprocity of social support is associated with psychological distress and suicidal ideation in older Japanese people: A population-based study

•Reciprocal social support was associated with lower distress and suicidal ideation.•Both received and provided low social support showed the highest risk.•Women had a higher risk of distress and suicidal ideation compare with men.•This gender difference was more prominent in over-providing situations.

Dynamic Longitudinal Associations Between Social Support and Cognitive Function: A Prospective Investigation of the Directionality of Associations.

ObjectiveTo investigate the reciprocity of social support and cognitive function in late life.MethodAnalyses were based on three parallel repeat measures of social support and cognition from the Whitehall II cohort, providing 10-year follow-up of 6,863 participants (mean age 55.8 years, SD 6.0 at baseline). Alternative hypotheses were evaluated via four bivariate dual change score models: Full coupling model estimated mutual influences of social support and cognition on subsequent changes in each other; social causation model assumed a unidirectional influence from social support onto changes in cognition, while the opposite assumption was tested by health selection model; last, no coupling model suggested independent growth of these two sets of variables.ResultsA better cognition at the preceding stage was related to less positive changes in confiding support and less negative changes in practical support. In contrast, influences from social support on subsequent changes in cognition were not detected.DiscussionThis empirical study provides some evidence for the health selection mechanism, such that cognition modified changes in social support. The hypothesized neuroprotective effect of social support was not detectable.

Eating Alone as Social Disengagement is Strongly Associated With Depressive Symptoms in Japanese Community-Dwelling Older Adults

ObjectivesDepression in later life poses a grave challenge for the aging countries. The reported key risk factors include social disengagement, but the lack of social companionship during mealtimes, namely eating alone, has not been examined extensively, especially in relation to living arrangement. Past studies on changes along geriatric trajectories in the association between social engagement and depression also remain inadequate. This study aims to examine the association between social engagement and depressive symptoms with a particular focus on eating alone and how the association changes along the aging and mental frailty trajectories. DesignA cross-sectional study. SettingKashiwa-city, Chiba-prefecture in Japan. ParticipantsA total of 1856 community-dwelling older adults. MeasurementsThe 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms. The indicators used to assess social engagement included eating alone, living arrangement, reciprocity of social support, social participation, social stressors and social ties. ResultsSocial engagement was significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Those who live with their families yet eat alone were found to be at particular risk (odds ratio = 5.02, 95% confidence interval 2.5–9.9 for young-old; odds ratio = 2.41, 95% confidence interval 1.2–4.8 for old-old). Younger and less mentally frail populations showed stronger associations. ConclusionsEating alone was a key risk factor for depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults. The living arrangement in which they eat alone is important in identifying those with the greatest risk. Mental health management for older adults requires comprehensive assessment of their social relations that takes into account their companionship during mealtimes. Social preventive measures need to involve early interventions in order to augment their effectiveness against mental frailty.

Psychometric Analysis of a Scale to Assess Norms of Reciprocity of Social Support in Community-Based and Congregation-Based Groups

Reciprocity, a core component of social capital, is rarely theorized or measured leaving the relationship between reciprocity and health ambiguous. Historically, reciprocity measures have not been used in the context they were designed causing measurement error. This multi-phased study was designed to develop and validate a reciprocity measure for formal and informal groups within communities and congregations as part of a more comprehensive social capital measure. In-depth interviews ( n = 72), cognitive interviews ( n = 40), and an expert review panel guided item development and selection for content validity. South Carolina residents ( n = 500) completed the 10-item Reciprocity of Social Support (RSS) Scale during 2008-2010. Construct validity was supported through an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) that confirmed a two-factor model for the scale for community- and congregation-based groups. Cronbach’s α values indicated items were highly correlated for community groups and church groups. Psychometric analyses of the RSS Scale support convergent and divergent validity for the community- and congregation-based groups. Mean RSS Scale scores were not statistically different between community- and congregation-based groups. This scale has proven psychometric properties for utilization in future research investigating reciprocity of social support in community- and congregation-based groups and will be useful to examine whether reciprocity (by context and type of group) is associated with physical and/or mental health.

Enhancing university student's mental health by reciprocating social support using social skills

A hypothetical model is presented for improving and enhancing the mental health of university students through reciprocity of social support, which is affected by social skills. University students (96 men and 167 women) participated in the study. They completed Kikuchi's Social Skill Scale (Kikuchi, 1988), the 9-items for assessing the reciprocity of perceived support (Fukuoka, 1997), and the Diagnostic Inventory for Mental Health Pattern (Hashimoto & Tokunaga, 1999). Results indicated that the levels of social skills were negatively correlated with the reciprocity of perceived support, suggesting that the reciprocity of perceived support was well balanced among students with high social skills. Nonlinear regression analysis revealed that students' stress levels were lower and that their quality of life was higher, when there was a well balanced reciprocity of perceived support. A theoretical and hypothetical model was developed using structural equation modeling. It is suggested that this model would be useful for developing an effective approach to the improvement and enhancement of mental health in university students.

Suicidal ideation and reciprocity of social support in local residents

Suicidal ideation and reciprocity of social support in local residents

A Household-Based Convoy and the Reciprocity of Support Exchange Between Adult Children and Noncoresiding Parents

In response to the transition of the social support structure under rapid population change, this article proposes a four-layer household-based convoy to fully depict support structures. The four layers are referred to as the household type, family network, kinship network, and social network from the innermost to the outermost layer. The 2001 Taiwan Social Change Survey (Chang & Fu, 2002) is used to construct the household-based convoy. The results of this study show that the reciprocity of social support is mainly affected by support strategies that are probably because of spatial separation among family members. Different strategies are employed based on the nature of the social support.

Coping of diseases in old age--partnership as a resource

Somatic as well as mental health of the elderly are to a high extent determined by the quality of their marriage, the reciprocity of social support, and the available socio-economic resources. The coping behavior does not change very much in the course ofa person's life. If he or she has sufficient skills and resources, the elderly person will engage in problem-focused coping. If demands are appraised as outside of the person's control, secondary control strategies aiming at a reappraisal are more frequently applied. A crucial coping resource in old age is the availability of social support that is experienced as adequate and useful by the recipient. The spouse and members and close family members are the most important sources of social support for the elderly.

Subjective norms toward social support among Japanese American elderly in New York City: Why help does not always help

This study investigated the interaction effects between social support and subjective norms toward mobilizing and reciprocating social support on the psychological well-being among Japanese American elderly. A sample of 111 Japanese American elderly (mean age: 74 years) who resided in the New York City metropolitan area were interviewed using a structured survey questionnaire. The study revealed several significant interaction effects between norms and social support. Japanese American elderly who had strong norms toward reciprocating support did not receive the full benefit of social support because of the negative impact of norms of reciprocity. Elderly who had received material support from family and had strong norms toward reciprocity were more depressed, showed more symptoms of aging, and were less satisfied with their lives than those elderly who did not have strong norms of reciprocity. These findings suggest that cultural norms toward mobilizing certain types and sources of social support, and norms toward reciprocity of social support must be considered when investigating social support. Interventions to increase social support may have a negative effect on psychological well-being when recipients have strong norms toward reciprocating the support, but lack resources to do so. Future research is needed to identify effective strategies to change norms to maximize the effect of social support, particularly among elderly whose financial resources and social networks are limited. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Subjective norms toward social support among Japanese American elderly in New York City: Why help does not always help

This study investigated the interaction effects between social support and subjective norms toward mobilizing and reciprocating social support on the psychological well-being among Japanese American elderly. A sample of 111 Japanese American elderly (mean age: 74 years) who resided in the New York City metropolitan area were interviewed using a structured survey questionnaire. The study revealed several significant interaction effects between norms and social support. Japanese American elderly who had strong norms toward reciprocating support did not receive the full benefit of social support because of the negative impact of norms of reciprocity. Elderly who had received material support from family and had strong norms toward reciprocity were more depressed, showed more symptoms of aging, and were less satisfied with their lives than those elderly who did not have strong norms of reciprocity. These findings suggest that cultural norms toward mobilizing certain types and sources of social support, and norms toward reciprocity of social support must be considered when investigating social support. Interventions to increase social support may have a negative effect on psychological well-being when recipients have strong norms toward reciprocating the support, but lack resources to do so. Future research is needed to identify effective strategies to change norms to maximize the effect of social support, particularly among elderly whose financial resources and social networks are limited. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The effects of social support reciprocity on mental and physical health of young adults

The present study examined the effects that reciprocity of social support has on mental and physical health of young adults from the viewpoint that an individual is both an active and passive support provider as well as receiver. The questionnaire, completed by 505 young adults, included items that measured four kinds of support: requested by and provided to others, and requested and received by them. It also asked about the affects associated with support relationships, in addition to the level of adjustment and mental and physical health. Correlational analyses showed that young adults felt their support relationships were fairly reciprocal. ANOVA and multiple regression indicated that lack of reciprocity was in general associated with negative affects and poor health. Providing more support than receiving lead to dissatisfaction, and receiving more than providing to a feeling of indebtedness. Finally, the data supported the prediction that there was a path from support equity to affective state to mental and physical health.

Question sequence effects in the measurement of reciprocity

This article focuses on the methodological problem of sequence effects in the measurement of reciprocity of social support (the balance between giving and receiving of support). It is hypothesized that the likelihood that a relationship is reciprocal will be greater if the pairs of questions on receiving and giving support immediately succeed each other in the interview than if an entire set of questions on receiving support precedes the entire set of reversed questions.

The Measurement of Reciprocity in Ego-Centered Networks of Personal Relationships: A Comparison of Various Indices

This article deals with the reciprocity of social support in personal relationships and with its connection to well-being, particularly loneliness. After reviewing briefly the concept of reciprocity, w'e develop four methods for constructing indices of the reciprocity of social support based on data on ego-centered networks of personal relationships. The four indices showed that on the average, the respondents' relationship networks were strongly reciprocal. The results did not make it unequivocally clear whether overbenefiting (versus underbenefitingj and loneliness were linked via a U-shaped association, as suggested by the literature, or via a linear or inverse U-shaped association. The use of more specific indices is recommended for a more extensive investigation of the association between reciprocity and loneliness.

Close friendships among senior adults.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the relative contributions of personal, affective, and social exchange characteristics to satisfaction with the best friendship. Senior adults (N = 76) described and evaluated their best friendships in terms of positive and negative affect, equity, reciprocity of social support, and satisfaction. The individual's endorsement of communal and exchange orientations were included as personal characteristics. The study confirms that a communal orientation enhances satisfaction with a best friendship and that conflict and negativity detract from it. Social exchange characteristics were not related to friendship satisfaction. The need to reevaluate the role of social exchange in close relationships is discussed.