Role Of Emotional Support Research Articles

What influences life expectancy in people with dementia? Social support as an emerging protective factor.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of support from the social environment for the life expectancy in people with dementia beyond well-established individual demographic and clinical predictors over a period of up to 8 years. The analyses are based on data from 500 community-dwelling individuals in Germany who tested positive for dementia and were followed up for up to 8 years. Life expectancy was examined in relation to perceived social support as well as well-established socio-demographic (age, sex) and clinical predictors (cognitive status, functional status, comorbidities), using Cox regressions. Greater support from the social environment reduced the risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63-0.98), with the role of emotional support being particularly important. Furthermore, higher age was associated with an increased mortality risk (HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.05-1.11), while female sex (HR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.48-0.85) and higher cognitive (HR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93-0.98) and functional status (HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.86-0.97) were associated with higher life expectancy. Our study provides novel evidence that less support from the social environment, especially emotional support, is a risk factor for shorter life expectancy in people with dementia-beyond known clinical factors. Not only the clinical and caregiving needs but also their psychosocial needs of individuals with dementia should be emphasised.

The Impact of Negative Evaluations on Women's Mental Health on social media

This paper examines the impact of negative online reviews on the psychological well-being of women in the context of social media. Investigating various dimensions of mental health such as positive emotions, body image concerns, anxiety, and depression, this article uncovers the dual nature of social media as both an emotional support platform and a potential source of psychological challenges. This review underscores the multifaceted influences on mental health, encompassing not only emotional reactions but also aspects like self-esteem and anxiety. Findings reveal the crucial role of emotional support from friends and social networks in mitigating negative emotions and psychological stress. Additionally, different usage patterns across social media platforms can affect psychological states, with some platforms eliciting negative evaluations while others lean toward positive interactions. The necessity of developing strategies to promote women's mental health on social media is emphasized, including encouraging positive emotional expression and healthy usage habits. The reliance on self-report data could affect accuracy in previous studies. Future research should incorporate experimental designs and longitudinal methods to establish causal links across various platforms, ages, and cultures, providing a more comprehensive understanding of social media's impact on mental health.

Servant leadership and clinical nurses’ work engagement: The mediating role of emotional support and frustration

The present study aimed to investigate the influence of emotional support and frustration on the relationship between servant leadership and clinical nurses’ work engagement. The survey sample consists of 1 127 clinical nurses from six hospitals in China (female = 1 081; average age = 32. 78 years, SD = 6. 40 years). The results indicate that servant leadership can predict higher clinical nurses’ work engagement. Furthermore, emotional support and frustration mediated the relationship between servant leadership and clinical nurses’ work engagement. Additionally, frustration mediated the relationship between emotional support and clinical nurses’ work engagement. The research results provide evidence on the internal mechanism of the impact of servant leadership and clinical nurses’ work engagement.

The pandemic experiences of Ontario perinatal providers: a qualitative study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has produced widespread disruptions for healthcare systems across Canada. Perinatal care in Ontario, Canada was subject to province-wide public health restrictions, reallocation of hospital beds and human health resources. To better understand the impacts of the pandemic on Ontario perinatal care, this study explored the perspectives of perinatal care providers about their clinical COVID-19 pandemic experiences.MethodsSemi-structured key informant virtual interviews were conducted between August 2021 and January 2022 with 15 Ontario-based perinatal care providers. Recorded interviews were transcribed, and thematic content analysis used to identify major themes and subthemes.ResultsParticipants were mainly women, practicing in Eastern and Central Ontario as health providers (obstetricians, nurses, midwives), allied regulated health professionals (social worker, massage therapist), and perinatal support workers (doula, lactation consultant). Major themes and subthemes were identified inductively as follows: (1) Impacts of COVID-19 on providers (psychosocial stress, healthcare system barriers, healthcare system opportunities); (2) Perceived impacts of COVID-19 on pregnant people (psychosocial stress, amplification of existing healthcare barriers, influences on reproductive decision making; minor theme- social and emotional support roles); (3) Vaccine discourse (provider empathy, vaccines and patient family dynamics, minor themes- patient vaccine hesitancy, COVID-19 misinformation); and (4) Virtual pregnancy care (benefits, disadvantages, adaptation of standard care practices).ConclusionsPerinatal care providers reported significant stress and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and evolving hospital protocols. Providers perceived that their patients were distressed by both the pandemic and related reductions in pregnancy healthcare services including hospital limits to support companion(s). Although virtual pregnancy care impaired patient-provider rapport, most providers believed that the workflow efficiencies and patient convenience of virtual care is beneficial to perinatal healthcare.

Analyzing the Developmental Processes and Influencing Factors of Children’s Emotional Recognition, Expression, and Regulation Abilities: A Comprehensive Review

This article explores the influencing factors on children’s emotional regulation abilities. It discusses the impact of parental modeling and communication style, cultural norms and expectations, and the teaching of self-soothing techniques, cognitive reappraisal, and problem-solving skills. The role of emotional support from caregivers and peers is also examined, as well as the effects of exposure to stress and trauma. By understanding these factors, caregivers and individuals can support children in developing healthy emotional regulation abilities.

The association of women's experience of abuse in childhood with depression during pregnancy and the role of emotional support as a moderator.

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of antenatal depression and experience of abuse during childhood, to analyze the association between having experienced childhood abuse and depression during pregnancy, and to explore the role of emotional support as a moderator of that association. In total, 44,770 pregnant women were analyzed from the self-administered registry for risk assessment at community public health centers in Seoul, Republic of Korea, for home visiting service provision between 2015 and 2019. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was applied for the assessment of depression. The adjusted effects of childhood abuse experience on antepartum depression according to emotional support as an effect moderator were estimated. Depression was present in 2,451 pregnant women (5.5%), and 1,506 (3.4%) reported having experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in childhood. After adjustment of covariates, pregnant women who had experienced abuse during childhood had EPDS scores 2.79 points higher than pregnant women without such experiences, and those who lacked emotional support during adulthood had 4.96 points higher than their counterparts. The difference in EPDS scores based on childhood abuse experience among women who reported emotional support (2.86) was larger than the difference in EPDS scores among those with no emotional support (1.91) (P for interaction = 0.0106). The experience of abuse in early life and emotional support in later life are both independently important for understanding antenatal depression in Korean women. More comprehensive emotional support is needed for pregnant women who experienced abuse in childhood.

Loneliness among Chinese international and local students in Germany: the role of student status, gender, and emotional support

ABSTRACT For students, studying abroad has its advantages but might also have unwanted adverse effects, such as social isolation and loneliness. We comparatively analyse the role of emotional support in understanding loneliness among Chinese international students and local students in Germany from a gender perspective. Based on a unique sample, our findings suggest that Chinese international students experience higher levels of loneliness than local students. Female Chinese international students are less lonely compared to male ones, whereas the opposite is true for local students. Surprisingly, having a higher number of emotionally supportive ties is associated with higher levels of loneliness for all students. Our subgroup analysis further revealed that the relationship between emotional support and loneliness varies by gender and student status. Female local students benefit from having more emotionally supportive ties, while the opposite is true for female Chinese international students. We recommend conducting a longitudinal study for examining the causality of the relationship between networks and loneliness in the future. Our findings have implications for universities and higher education research in addressing loneliness among students.

Beware of separating from the majority: the influence of leader-member exchange (LMX) relational separation on individual creativity

PurposeThe aim is to test the influence of leader-member exchange relational separation (LMXRS) on individual creativity by building up a cross-level moderated mediation model. Besides exploring the mediating role of emotional support in linking LMXRS with individual creativity, this study also examines the moderating role of group-level team-leader exchange (TMX) in affecting the mediation.Design/methodology/approachLongitudinal data for 321 employees on 68 groups in over ten enterprises from China was employed to examine this model.FindingsResults showed that LMXRS affected individual creativity negatively. Further, LMXRS had an indirect effect on individual creativity via emotional support. Finally, moderated path analysis revealed TMX median attenuated LMXRS direct influence on emotional support and indirect effect on individual creativity.Originality/valueThe empirical research investigates the mediating influence of emotional support on the association between LMXRS and individual creativity. The multilevel moderated mediation model also expands the current findings by examining that group-level TMX quality can moderate the indirect influence of LMXRS on individual creativity through emotional support.

Relationships between social support, dark triad and life satisfaction in honorary blood donors. The mediating role of emotional support

Background
 The psychological interest in the group of blood donors, in the perspective of worldwide research, is a valuable source of knowledge about variables that may help to attract new blood donors or to maintain the regularity of donations. So far, Polish research in this group has only investigated the state of knowledge about blood donation and has not studied specific psychological predispositions.
 The aim
 The aim of the presented study was to examine the relationship between the dark triad, social support and life satisfaction in a group of polish voluntary blood donors.
 Material and methods
 In order to measure variables of interest, the SD3 scale, the Social Support Scale, and the SWLS were used. The study included a group of 111 voluntary blood donors from different cities in Poland.
 Results
 The conducted analyses showed positive and significant relationships between social support (informational, material, emotional, and valuational), narcissism, and life satisfaction. Furthermore, linear regression analysis showed that social support and the dark triad explain life satisfaction in the study group by 30%. Mediation analysis showed that emotional support enhances the relationship of narcissism and life satisfaction.
 Conclusions
 The associations of narcissism, social support and life satisfaction can be explained through Caroll Ryff's theory of psychological well-being, according to which both subclinical narcissism and received social support can be components of a positive assessment of a person's quality of life. The study may provide a baseline for further research in a group of voluntary blood donors - e.g. with an extension of narcissism to include its communal dimension.

Abstract WP183: Social Activities Are Positively Associated With Medication Adherence In Stroke Survivors

Introduction: Social support may influence illness incidence or recovery through effects on health-related behaviors, and one aspect is emotional support, which includes the offering of empathy, friendship, care, and trust along with information. While we have previously reported on the positive relationship of family and friend networks in risk reduction, our objective was to examine whether participation in formalized group activities was related to medication adherence post-stroke. Methods: Using Discharge Educational Strategies for Reduction of Vascular Events (DESERVE) data, information regarding religious and nonreligious social activities was collected at baseline. The outcome variable was measured by the self-reported 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8; score 0-8). Medium/high adherence (MMAS-8≥6) at 6- and 12-months post-discharge was modeled against social activities separately using logistic regression adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, family and friend networks, NIH stroke scale at admission, and the intervention. Results: Of the 541 participants who completed the baseline questionnaire, 286 and 344 had valid MMAS-8 scores for post 6-months and 12-months follow-up data collection. Medication adherence was poor among the participants. Only 44% for 6-months and 46% for 12-months had medium or high medication adherence. Participants going to nonreligious social events (n = 67, 21%) had higher odds of having medium/high medication adherence (OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.15-8.25) at 12-months. Discussion: Nonreligious social activities, including meetings of social clubs or other non-religious groups not relevant to work, were shown to be positively related to 12-months post-discharge medication adherence among stroke patients. Social activities may play an important role in emotional support and may be an opportunity for targeted secondary stroke prevention.

COMPASSIONATE LOVE AND LONELINESS: LATER LIFE MENTAL HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract Loneliness is a serious public health problem that affects over 25% of older adults and is associated with an increased risk of depression, cognitive decline, and premature death. Previous research on social support mechanisms that contribute to loneliness has consistently illustrated the role of emotional support in reducing loneliness. However, the importance of compassionate love in reducing loneliness and, as a consequence, improving psychological well-being in later life has received little attention. Neurobiology indicates that the brain regions associated with loneliness and compassion overlap, suggesting that increasing compassion-related emotions may help alleviate loneliness. Using data from a nationwide web-based survey (n=1,861), we examined the influence of compassionate love on loneliness and assessed whether loneliness mediates the relationship between compassionate love and mental health outcomes. Even after controlling for emotional support, estimates from an ordinary least squares regression (OLS) model suggest that older adults who felt loved had significantly lower levels of loneliness (b=-0.84, p< 0.001). Feeling of love also contributed to significantly fewer depressive symptoms (b=-2.03, p< 0.001) and anxiety (b=-1.07, p< 0.001). Loneliness completely mediated the effect of compassionate love on anxiety (b=-0.82, p< 0.001) and significantly mediated its influence on depressive symptoms (b=-1.18, p< 0.001). Our findings underscore the need to design interventions that increase compassionate love to reduce loneliness and improve psychological wellbeing among older adults.

COMPASSIONATE LOVE AND LONELINESS: LATER LIFE MENTAL HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract Loneliness is a serious public health problem that affects over 25% of older adults and is associated with an increased risk of depression, cognitive decline, and premature death. Previous research on social support mechanisms that contribute to loneliness has consistently illustrated the role of emotional support in reducing loneliness. However, the importance of compassionate love in reducing loneliness and, as a consequence, improving psychological well-being in later life has received little attention. Neurobiology indicates that the brain regions associated with loneliness and compassion overlap, suggesting that increasing compassion-related emotions may help alleviate loneliness. Using data from a nationwide web-based survey (n=1,861), we examined the influence of compassionate love on loneliness and assessed whether loneliness mediates the relationship between compassionate love and mental health outcomes. Even after controlling for emotional support, estimates from an ordinary least squares regression (OLS) model suggest that older adults who felt loved had significantly lower levels of loneliness (b=-0.84, p< 0.001). Feeling of love also contributed to significantly fewer depressive symptoms (b=-2.03, p< 0.001) and anxiety (b=-1.07, p< 0.001). Loneliness completely mediated the effect of compassionate love on anxiety (b=-0.82, p< 0.001) and significantly mediated its influence on depressive symptoms (b=-1.18, p< 0.001). Our findings underscore the need to design interventions that increase compassionate love to reduce loneliness and improve psychological wellbeing among older adults.

Reconfiguring the social organization of work in the intensive care unit: Changed relationships and new roles during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic caused hospitals to make changes to workflow that exacerbated emotional exhaustion and burnout among health care workers. This article examines one of those changes, restricted visitation, showing how it changed the social organization of work by upending established interactional patterns and relationships between health care workers, patients, and patients' families. Based on 40 interviews with intensive care unit (ICU) workers in units that were full of COVID-19 patients and had fully restricted visitation, study findings show that staff took on emotional support roles with patients that had typically been done by families at the bedside. They also faced increased anger, distrust, and misunderstandings from families who were not allowed to see their dying loved one. With each other, staff bonded together with dark humor and candid talk about the scale of deaths, constructing a shared understanding and solidarity amidst the tragedy of the pandemic.

The intersection of race and financial strain: The pain of social disconnection among women in the United States

Objectives: Considerable attention has been directed at increased social isolation and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on later-life psychological well-being. There is a dearth of research on the effect of financial strain and associated psychosocial mechanisms on loneliness among women across racial groups. It is unclear how racial status and financial strain intersect to impact later-life loneliness amid immense uncertainty, social isolation, and anxiety induced by the pandemic. Methods: Based on our nationwide Web-based survey (n = 1,301), we used ordinary least square regression to examine the effects of financial strain on loneliness among Black and White women and assessed the role of emotional support in contributing to such effects. Results: We found that Black women face significantly more financial strain than White women but also receive more emotional support and experience less loneliness. Findings show that women experiencing financial strain report increased loneliness, but the negative effects of financial strain are significantly greater for Black women than for White women. Our mediation analysis revealed that emotional support made a significant contribution to the effects of financial strain on loneliness in White women but not in Black women. Discussion: Despite shared vulnerability and social isolation across the general population, our findings suggest that negative effects of financial strain on loneliness among women continue to differ across race, even amid the pandemic. Our findings demonstrate how emotional support explains the relationship between financial strain and later-life loneliness in a racially distinct manner.

“I want you to help me, you’re family”: A relational approach to women's experience of distress and recovery in the perinatal period

Theoretical approaches have tended to understand perinatal distress through either individual or socio-cultural factors. In contrast, Natasha Mauthner proposed a relational model that understands perinatal distress in the context of interpersonal relationships. This study aims to build on Mauthner's work to explore how women speak about their relationships in connection to their stories of perinatal distress and recovery. Eight women were interviewed for the study. All women had at least one child under the age of three and self-identified as having experienced distress in the perinatal period. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using Voice Centred Relational Analysis. Four broad themes were identified: (i) the role of practical support, (ii) the role of emotional support, (iii) relational dynamics, and (iv) the role of socio-cultural norms. Whilst some women experienced practical and emotional support in their relationships, those who did not linked a lack of support to their feelings of distress. Relationships were also found to reinforce unhelpful social norms around motherhood and mental health, as well as offering a space to resist norms and create wider discourses about what it means to be a mother. This study suggests that organizations supporting women in the perinatal period should focus on women's relational needs and consider the cultural discourses of motherhood that they perpetuate.

Emotional support received moderates academic stress and mental well-being in a sample of Afghan university students amid COVID-19.

Academic stress experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered high levels of anxiety and depression and other severe mental health issues among university students around the globe. In Afghanistan, there is a paucity of research on the academic and mental health issues of Afghan university students and none pertaining to their academic stress and mental well-being amid the pandemic. This research examines the potential stress-buffering role of emotional support received between academic stress and mental well-being in a sample of Afghan university students during the COVID-19 outbreak. The study sample comprised 508 Afghan university students. An online survey was developed for data collection. Model 1 of the PROCESS macro was used to conduct the moderation analysis. These indicate that moderate and high levels of emotional support received may protect against the negative effects of higher levels of academic stress on mental well-being. This research makes an important contribution to the literature on social support. It may be inferred from the results that Afghan university students who experience academic stress, but have strong emotional support are able to attain greater mental well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak as compared to those with weak emotional support. Results may encourage mental health practitioners, university counselors, education administrators, and faculty to jointly formulate strategies for offering emotional support to Afghan university students.

Spouses’ Experiences of Rehabilitees’ Burnout and Recovery

The role of family members’ support in the burnout recovery process has been recognized in several studies. The role of emotional support provided by the spouse has been found to be significant in reducing burnout levels. Although crossover of burnout and emotional support have been investigated, the partners’ experiences of the individuals’ burnout and recovery have remained largely unexplored. To fill this research gap the study aims to provide in-depth knowledge of the experiences of spouses of individuals who have a history of burnout and are recovering from it by participating in a rehabilitation course. Ten spouses of individuals who had previously suffered and had recovered or was recovering from burnout in a national rehabilitation course, were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews comprised the main research material and were subjected to Thematic Analysis. Results showed that spouses were vicariously affected by the individuals’ burnout and recovery. While they were able to provide significant support, especially if interspousal communication was well-functioning, they also experienced significant distress. In the recovery phase, the positive changes in the individuals’ well-being were transferred in the relationship, and were perceived by both spouses as an increased ease, shared activities and improvement in communication. Knowledge of the spouses’ experiences will allow their possible inclusion in the rehabilitation programme and their training in recognizing the symptoms of burnout in their close ones. This will enable individuals and their spouses to be better equipped to prevent the full development of burnout and to initiate a timely search for professional help.

A formal support group for esophageal atresia and/or tracheoesophageal fistula in South Africa may improve the outcome of these children and their families

The psychosocial aspect of various congenital anomalies like esophageal atresia (EA) with/or without a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) being the cause of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety in parents of these children, is often overlooked by medical professionals. Support groups may be useful to address a part of this problem and form an important aspect of emotional support for any rare or congenital disease. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to assess the need for a formal support group for parents of patients born with EA and to emphasize the role of emotional support for these parents and children. A questionnaire was sent to members of an informal WhatsApp group which included participants with diverse demographics across private and public platforms, across South Africa. The questions focused on 3 main areas: demographic data, diagnosis and the surgery, and information about the participant’s emotional support. All the data were inserted in an excel datasheet and descriptive statistical analysis was used. Questions were sent to 14 members of an informal WhatsApp group. Eight were included in the study. All 8 participants were mothers of children born with an EA with a TEF. The questions about the need for emotional support focus on the time after the baby was born. The majority (87.5%) of the mothers felt that they could bond with their babies during pregnancy, but in contrast, 75% felt that they missed an opportunity to bond with their babies after birth, mainly because they were not allowed to hold their babies for up to 11 days after birth. Only 1 of the mothers were in contact with other families with children born with EA, and 6 of the remaining 7 agreed that this would have helped them during this emotionally challenging time. All 8 thought that sharing their stories with others could have helped them emotionally and all agreed that an EA/TEF support group was a good idea. The family, as another patient, ought to be treated and included in the overall treatment plan if we aim to improve the quality of life for both the patients and their families. Disease-specific support groups can play a major role in the emotional well-being of both the children born with EA and their families.

Social connectedness and hair cortisol in community-dwelling older adults

PurposeHair cortisol is emerging as a reliable biomarker for measuring retrospective stress hormone levels. Given that social connectedness can buffer psychobiological stress reactivity, increasing attention is being paid to the specific types of social networks associated with the stress response. This study investigated the role played by two components of social life, emotional closeness and network size, to probe which aspects of social networks were related to stress measures. MethodsThe scalp hair cortisol level was used to assess the cumulative cortisol production in 179 community-dwelling older adults, in the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (KSHAP). Multivariate regression approach was used to examine the link between the stress measures (cortisol and perceived stress scale) and social relationships (social network size and emotional closeness). ResultsEmotional closeness (the average level of what one feels about one’s relationship) was significantly associated with decreased levels of hair cortisol, whereas no such relationship was found with the network size. ConclusionsThe current findings underscore the role of emotional support on reducing cumulative cortisol, thus providing potential resilience mechanisms for the psychobiological stress response.

Compassion for Oneself and Others Protects the Mental Health of First Responders.

ObjectivesFirst responders are at elevated risk for psychological distress from frequent exposure to potentially traumatic events. Self-compassion may buffer against the negative impact of these stressors, and the potential emotional challenges of having high levels of compassion for others. However, little is known about the psychological impact of compassion in first responders. We examined how self-compassion, compassionate love for others, and service role interacted to predict mental health in a diverse group of first responders.MethodsFirst responders (N = 171) with both traditional and emotional support roles completed an online survey including measures of self-compassion, compassionate love, psychological distress, post-traumatic stress, secondary traumatic stress, burnout, resilience, compassion satisfaction, and life satisfaction.ResultsGreater self-compassion and compassionate love both independently predicted less depersonalization (|β|s ≥ .18, ps < .01). Greater self-compassion predicted less general psychological distress, post-traumatic stress, secondary traumatic stress, and emotional exhaustion, as well as greater resilience and life satisfaction (|β|s ≥ .35, ps < .001). Greater compassionate love predicted greater personal accomplishment and compassion satisfaction for all first responders (|β|s ≥ .30, ps < .001); for traditional first responders only, greater self-compassion predicted greater personal accomplishment and compassion satisfaction (role x self-compassion; |β|s ≥ .16, ps < .05). Emotional support first responders reported less emotional exhaustion and greater resilience than traditional first responders (|β|s ≥ .21, ps < .05).ConclusionsSelf-compassion and compassionate love each play important roles in promoting mental health among first responders. Programs designed to increase compassion could be beneficial in this population.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12671-020-01527-y.