Social Support Appraisals Scale Research Articles

Social health status of the HIV infected and their families and relevant influencing factors

To investigate the social health status of the HIV infected and their families in a high HIV/AIDS prevalence village in Hunan province and to examine the relations of the social health status, responses and social support. A total of 51 HIV infected persons (infected group), 49 family members of the infected (family member group) and 96 normal persons (control group) were surveyed by Social Health Measurement Scale-a sub-scale of Self-rated Health Measurement Scale (SRHMS), Social Support Assessment Scale (SSAS) and Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ). (1) In regard to the total scores of social health, responding style and social support, significant differences were found among the infected group, the group of family members and the control group (62.9 +/- 18.6, 79.8 +/- 18.0, 86.5 +/- 21.3, F = 18.16; 28.7 +/- 4.3, 27.2 +/- 5.4, 25.9 +/- 6.4, F = 5.21; 33.8 +/- 8.1, 41.0 +/- 6.6, 38.1 +/- 6.8, F = 13.23; P < 0.01). (2) Subjective care and support, the educational status, the marital status and support utilization were significant predictors to the social health status of the infected group (R(2) = 0.73, F = 27.78, P < 0.01). (3) Subjective support and negative responding style were significant predictors to the social health status of the group of family members (R(2) = 0.32, F = 12.35, P < 0.01). The HIV infected and their families have more negative responding style, make less use of social support and hold a inferior social health status. It's necessary to exert psychological intervention targeting at these population group.

Relationship of the recurrence of schizophrenia with life events, the level of insight, therapy compliance and social support

Objective To explore the relationship of the recurrence of schizophrenia with life events, the level of insight, therapy compliance and social support, so as to provide evidence for preventing relapse. Methods 160 schizophrenic inpatients (observation group) who were re -hospitalized because of recurrence, were evaluated with the life events scale (LES), insight treatment attitude questionnaire (ITAQ), drug therapy compliance and Social Support Assessment Scale (SSAS) . 86 non - relapse schizophrenic out - patients (control group),who were discharged at the same time as observation group after the first hospitalization. Results ①The incidence rate of life events, the number of negative life events and the score of negative llfe events in observation group were higher than those in control group (P<0.01) . ②The scores of ITAQ, SSAS and subjective support in observallon group were lower than those in control group (P<0.01) .③The rate of complete drug therapy compliance in observation group was significantly lower than that in control group, while the rates of partially compliance and no- compliance of drug therapy in observation group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01) .Condustons The schizophrenic patients with more ]fife events, lower level of insight, bad therapeutic dependence and shortage of social support are liable to recur. Key words: Schizophrenia; Recurrence; Life events; Insight; Compliance; Social support

Psychological Adjustment to Conjugal Bereavement: Do Social Networks Aid Coping following Spousal Death?

This research sought to investigate the role of social networks in coping and adjustment to spousal bereavement. A total of 198 Xhosa-speaking participants, drawn from the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, took part in the study. Quantitative data analyses revealed significant correlations between perceived social support on Social Support Appraisals scale and the anxiety scores on the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition and the problem-solving coping strategy scale on the Coping Strategy Indicator. Regression analyses revealed that depression contributed to increased social support appraisals, while anxiety was a significant negative predictor of the participants' experience of perceived social support. The authors highlight the need for bereavement intervention programs in the rural areas to be geared toward psycho-educating the conjugally bereaved individuals, within the socio-cultural framework, to continuously evaluate their support structures and strengthen ties with social networks that render support, instrumental assistance, and advice in times of need.

Social influence and pain response in women and men

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of social influence on responses to acute pain in women and men in a randomized experimental design. Sixty-eight undergraduates (32 women; 36 men) were randomly assigned to perform a cold pressor task either alone or in the presence of a same-sex friend. Expressions of pain were assessed with the short form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Overall social support was measured using the Krause social support assessment scale. The presence of a same-sex friend significantly increased pain reports in women, but not in men. Persons who reported high levels of social support on the Krause scale also reported greater cold pressor pain. Results suggest that the presence of a friend can increase pain report to an acute laboratory pain stimulus in women. These findings are consistent with models of social reinforcement in chronic pain syndromes.

The Effectiveness of a Community Group Intervention Program on Adjustment to Separation and Divorce

This study explores adjustment to separation and divorce and the effects of participating in a small regional community agency group intervention program. Prior to participation in group intervention, participants were interviewed for suitability and invited to complete the pre-intervention questionnaires comprising demographics, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Social Support Appraisal Scale and the Fisher Divorce Adjustment Scale. Of the forty-four participants that started the program, twenty females and ten males completed the group intervention program. Following completion, the post-intervention questionnaires were administered to participants. Some differences in adjustment to separation and divorce were noted for men and women pre-intervention on the Social Support Appraisal Scale. However, no gender differences were noted on the adjustment scales post-intervention. Overall, the results indicate that participants made significant adjustment gains following participation on all adjustment scales. This result implies there are short-term benefits of attending a group intervention program aimed at improved adjustment to separation and divorce.

The self-esteem condition of college students and analysis of influencing factors

目的 探讨大学生的自尊状况,分析相关因素.方法采取整群分层取样的方法,随机抽取河南新乡地区512名在校大学生.对他们进行缺陷感量表、抑郁量表、焦虑量表、社会支持量表、社会应对方式问卷、艾森克人格问卷的测试.结果除体能因子分[男性(20.70±6.12)分,女性(18.69±6.36)分,P＜0.01]外(t=3.624),缺陷感量表的总分和其他因子分在性别上差异无显著性(P＞0.05).三年级学生在社交自信因子和自尊总分方面高于一年级、二年级,差异有显著性(F=4.44,P＜0.01).逐步多元回归分析表明:影响大学生自尊水平因素主要有:神经质、内外向、积极应对方式、焦虑、抑郁.自尊水平与积极应对(r=0.153)、内外向(r=0.191)呈正相关,而与抑郁(r=-0.148)、焦虑(r=-0.173)、神经质(r=-0.330)呈显著负相关.结论大学生缺陷感量表体能因子有性别差异,总分和其他因子分性别差异无显著性;大学生自尊水平有随年级增长而提高的趋势;神经质、内外向、焦虑、积极应对方式、抑郁与大学生的自尊水平显著相关。

Spiritual Maturity and Social Support in a National Study of a Male Religious Order

This national study analyzed the relationship of spiritual maturity and valued relationships with social support and life satisfaction using a random sample of male religious from one Roman Catholic order (N = 251). Four measures were used: (a) NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI; Costa & McCrae, 1992), (b) Spiritual Maturity Index (SMI; Ellison, 1983), (c) Social Support Appraisals Scale (SS-A; Vaux, et al., 1986), and (d) Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS; Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985). Hierarchical regression results showed that Spiritual Maturity was a significant predictor of Perceived Social Support (F (1, 237) = 20.662, p ≤ .001) and Life Satisfaction (F(1, 237) = 13.205, p ≤ .001). The study also showed that valued relationships inside (versus outside) the order predicted Life Satisfaction (F(1, 236) = 4.722, p ≤ .05). These findings demonstrate the importance of spiritual development and peer relationships as a way of enhancing vocational stability and satisfaction in male religious.

Percepção de apoio social na adolescência: análise fatorial confirmatória da escala Social Support Appraisals

Durante a adolescência, a percepção de apoio social parece estar relacionada com o ajustamento psicossocial do adolescente e com o processo de desenvolvimento da sua auto-estima e da sua identidade. Este estudo aprecia algumas das qualidades psicométricas de um instrumento construído por Vaux para avaliar a percepção dos adolescentes do apoio emocional recebido da família, dos amigos e dos professores, o Social Support Appraisal (SSA). A sua consistência interna em estudantes portugueses do 7º ao 12º ano de escolaridade é satisfatória e melhora com a progressão na escolaridade. A sua estrutura, evidenciada graças ao recurso à técnica de modelação de estruturas covariantes (análise fatorial confirmatória, com o programa EQS, Bentler) revelou-se multidimensional e hierárquica, formada por um fator de segunda ordem e por três fatores de primeira ordem, que diferenciam a percepção de apoio social dos amigos, dos professores e da família.

Predictors of Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life Among Men with HIV Infection in the HAART Era

In a prospective cohort study between February 2001 and January 2004, baseline and 12-month follow-up data were collected on 226 and 197 men with HIV infection at three infectious disease clinics in a southern state, respectively. While many studies have provided important information on the correlates of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during HIV infection, little research attention has been directed toward examining the impact of factors on change in HRQOL over time. This study evaluated changes in HRQOL, and examined whether baseline active coping, family social support, depressive symptoms and CD4 cell counts predicted HRQOL changes over time among men with HIV infection. Patients' HRQOL, social support and depressive symptoms were measured with the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study tool, Coping with HIV Questionnaire, Social Support Appraisals Scale, and Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression instrument. Multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the time-related effects of the psychosocial variables and CD4 cell counts on each HRQOL dimension. Our results indicated that higher family support and CD4 cell counts at baseline were predictive of improved changes in physical and social functioning over time, and higher depressive symptoms at baseline were predictive of diminished role functioning, emotional well-being, and general health perception. These findings underline the importance of enhancing family social support, identifying and treating depression, and improving immune function to optimize HRQOL among men with HIV infection.

Health-Related Quality of Life Among Men with HIV Infection: Effects of Social Support, Coping, and Depression

In a prospective cohort study, baseline data were collected on 226 males with HIV infection attending three infectious disease clinics in a southern state. As a result of advances in HIV treatment, understanding the association between psychosocial factors and health-related quality of life has become an important area of study. The purpose of this study was to assess the total effects of social support and coping as well as the direct and indirect effects of these factors through depression on health-related quality of life. Subjects were interviewed and answered the following standardized questionnaires: The HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study tool, Coping with HIV Questionnaire, Social Support Appraisals Scale, and Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression instrument. Path models with strictly ordered relationships were fitted to study the effects of the psychosocial variables on each quality of life subscale. We found that coping and social support had total effects on some, but not all dimensions of health-related quality of life, whereas depression was associated with all dimensions of health-related quality of life. Furthermore, the effects of both social support and coping were mainly through the intermediate variable, depression. In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), when quality of life issues are of paramount importance, strategies to improve social support, coping, and particularly, depressive symptoms are strongly encouraged.

The investigation and study of mental health level and the relative factors in patients with insomnia

目的 探讨失眠症患者的心理健康状况、社会支持、应付方式及其个性特征.方法采用症状自评量表(SCL-90)、社会支持评定量表(SSAS)、应付方式问卷(CSQ)及艾森克个性问卷(EPQ)对78例失眠症患者和75名正常对照者进行了测评.结果 (1)失眠症组SCL-90总均分(失眠组1.72±0.56,对照组1.41±0.37)及躯体化、人际关系、抑郁、焦虑、精神病性因子评分均显著高于正常对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01),阳性项目数及阳性项目均分亦显著高于正常对照组(P<0.01);(2)失眠症组社会支持总分(失眠组35.67±5.14,对照组37.53±4.62)、客观支持和对社会支持的利用度评分显著低于正常对照组(P<0.05),应付方式中的自责、幻想和退避评分均显著高于正常对照组(P<0.01);(3)失眠症组EPQ的神经质评分显著高于正常对照组(P<0.01).结论失眠症患者的心理健康状况较差,多为不稳定个性,缺乏社会支持,面对压力情景时多采用不成熟的应付方式。

Psychological Factors Associated with Performance-Limiting Injuries in Professional Ballet Dancers

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between a broad range of psychosocial variables and performance-limiting physical injuries in a sample of elite ballet dancers in order to identify potential factors that could be included in interventions to prevent and treat dance injuries. Participants were asked to complete a battery of questionnaires assessing psychological well-being and social support. Participants also participated in a structured interview designed to solicit information about dance-related injuries in the 10-month period preceding the study. Study was conducted at the workplace of a 60-member professional ballet company. The company is part of a large, government-funded state theatre in Germany. Participants were 30 female and 24 male (mean age: 26.59 years; SD: 6.2 years) ballet dancers, representing 20 countries. Participants were employed in the company for the 2000-2001 performance season and were not injured at the time of participation in the study. Participants were asked to complete a battery of questionnaires including: a demographics questionnaire, the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, the Social Support Appraisal Scale, the Profile of Mood States, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Percent of performance and rehearsal days missed due to injury was computed as follows: (number of days missed due to injury/scheduled days) X 100. To identify potential correlates of injuries, Pearson Product-moment Correlation Coefficients were computed between the injury variable and each of the psychosocial variables. Absence due to injury was significantly positively correlated with stress, sleep disturbances, daytime sleepiness, and negative mood states (i.e., tension, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion). However, absence due to injury was significantly negatively associated with social support. Future interventions designed to prevent and treat injuries in elite ballet dancers should include the assessment and treatment of psychological distress (i.e., perceived stress, negative mood states, sleep problems) as well as the enhancement of social support in their programs.

Measuring the impact on relatives of caring for people with Alzheimer's disease: Quality of life, burden and well-being

This study compared key correlates of caregiver stress in 50 Alzheimer's disease patients and their primary caregivers. in relation to three outcome measures - perceived burden, psychological well-being, and quality of life (QoL). These were evaluated using the Zarit Burden Interview. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30), and Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual QoL (SEIQoL-DW) respectively. Informal social support was evaluated on Vaux's Social Support Appraisal Scale. Patients' cognitive. functional, and behavioural status were rated on Mini-Mental State Examination, Blessed-Roth Dementia Scale. and Baumgarten Dementia Behaviour Disturbance Scale respectively. Standardised multiple regression analysis was used to compare the outcome measures. In this model burden was highly related to behaviour disturbance. and also to social support (adjusted R2 = 0.45). Well-being was significantly related to behaviour disturbance, and also to functional status (adjusted R2 = 0.40). With regard to QoL the model performed poorly as most of the variance in QoL was not accounted for by the model (adjusted R2 = 0.14). These findings highlight differences in factors determining caregiver QoL. burden and well-being.

MEDICATION COMPLIANCE FOLLOWING RENAL TRANSPLANT

682 This study investigated variables that impacted compliance with medication regimen post renal transplant. Medication compliance was measured by two items obtained through patient self-report on a mailed survey: 1. Frequency of forgetting to take medications and 2. Frequency of not taking medications exactly as prescribed. Objective independent variables were: age; education; gender; marital status; Medicaid status (indicator of economic status); number of medications; race; type of transplant and years since transplant. Subjective independent variables were: SF36; Illness Intrusiveness Rating Scale; Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC); Social Support Appraisals Scale. In addition, two transplant specific items focused on whether patients experienced difficulty paying for immunosuppressants; and whether patients felt bothered by any part of the transplant experience (bothered). The sample consisted of 357 patients who met inclusion criteria for study participation. Data were analyzed using descriptive and multivariate analyses. Forgetting to take medication was predicted by a model with an R2=.088. Variables found to be significant in this model were: bothered; age; pain (SF36 subscale); and chance (MHLC subscale). Forgetting to take medication was associated with younger age; perception of less pain; believing that health outcomes were a matter of chance and feeling bothered by part of the transplant experience. Not taking medications exactly as prescribed was predicted by a model with an R2=.115. Variables found to be significant in the model were: powerful others (MHLC); social functioning(SF36 subscale); bothered; internal (MHLC). Taking medications exactly as prescribed was associated with a greater belief that powerful others controlled health outcomes; perception of a higher level of social functioning; not feeling bothered by the transplant experience and having less belief in internal control for health outcomes. Variables previously found to be related to medication compliance, such as race, gender, number of medications and time since transplant, were notably absent. Variables one might suspect to be important, such as socioeconomic status and difficulty paying for medications were also not significant in the final models. Variables that reflected patients' feelings and perceptions were critical. Feelings regarding faith in their physicians and positive feelings about their transplant experience increased compliance. Current trends in the health care environment make these findings particularly relevant for the evaluation of services provided by transplant programs.

A positive view of self: risk or protection for aggressive children?

Children's ratings of competence and relationship quality were used to examine the association between idealized or inflated self-perceptions and level of aggression. Participants were 62 aggressive and 53 nonaggressive second and third graders. Ratings of competence were based on the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children; ratings of relationship quality were drawn from the Social Support Appraisals Scale and the Network of Relationships Inventory. External ratings of competence and relationship quality were obtained from mothers, teachers, and peers. Compared to children who were nonaggressive, aggressive children were more likely to rate personal competence and relationship quality in a perfect or idealized manner and to show less differentiation in their ratings of competence and relationship quality. Aggressive children's self-rated competence and relationship quality were also inflated relative to the ratings made by others, whereas the self-ratings of nonaggressive children tended to be underestimates of their functioning. The tendency for aggressive children to idealize and to inflate ratings of competence and relationship quality was associated with higher levels of aggression. For aggressive children, a highly positive self-view is construed--not as a protective factor or measurement error--but as a defensive posture that places the child at added risk and that impedes the progress of psychosocial interventions.

Caregiving and social support in two illness groups.

The authors analyzed whether spouse caregivers of people with noncognitive disorders such as Parkinson's disease or people with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease differed in their use and perception of social support resources. There were no differences between the groups on the Social Support Appraisal Scale. However, caregivers of spouses diagnosed with cognitive disorders were older, had fewer children, and had fewer financial resources, and their spouses had fewer years of formal education and more problems with activities of daily living. On average, caregivers of Alzheimer's patients had been dealing with their spouses' chronic illness for a significantly shorter time. Results from logistic regression analysis indicated that four variables distinguished Alzheimer's caregivers from Parkinson's caregivers: hours of assistance from family members, instrumental activities of daily living, physical activities of daily living, and availability of personal help in a crisis.

The social support appraisals scale: Construct validation for psychiatric inpatients

The concept of social support and its relationship to physical health and psychological well-being has been well documented. However, little empirical research has been conducted with clinical populations, and no measure of perceived social support reportedly has been validated on psychiatric inpatients. A psychometric investigation of the Social Support Appraisals Scale, a subjective measure of social support, was undertaken with psychiatric inpatients. Good reliability and appropriate subscale intercorrelation were indicated by the data. Evidence of construct validity included significant associations with another social support appraisal measure, measures of other social support dimensions, and family-reported data. Strong psychometric properties of the instrument were demonstrated for hospitalized psychiatric patients. Clinical implications for prevention and treatment are discussed.

Appraisals of social support: Love, respect, and involvement

The multifaceted nature of social support has become more widely recognized in theory and research. Specifically, a consensus is emerging on the distinctions among support resources, behavior, and appraisals. The present study focuses on support appraisals with the aim of studying the degree to which the Social Support Appraisals Scale (SS-A) might be used to assess distinct appraisals of repect, love, and involvement. SS-A data from five heterogeneous samples (including students, mature women students, fathers, and adolescents) were subjected to factor analysis. The factors that emerged were highly invariant across samples and largely reflected respect, involvement, and love, though the “love” factor might also be interpreted as a “family” factor. Patterns of convergent and divergent validity with subscales reflecting constructs of love, respect, and involvement from two other support appraisal measures were equivocal. Some implications for theory and research of differentiating support appraisals are discussed.

The social support appraisals (SS‐A) scale: Studies of reliability and validity

American Journal of Community PsychologyVolume 14, Issue 2 p. 195-218 Article The social support appraisals (SS-A) scale: Studies of reliability and validity Alan Vaux, Corresponding Author Alan Vaux Psychology Department, Southern Illinois University, 62901 Carbondale, IllinoisSearch for more papers by this authorJeffrey Phillips, Jeffrey Phillips Psychology Department, Southern Illinois University, 62901 Carbondale, IllinoisSearch for more papers by this authorLori Holly, Lori Holly Psychology Department, Southern Illinois University, 62901 Carbondale, IllinoisSearch for more papers by this authorBrian Thomson, Brian Thomson Psychology Department, Southern Illinois University, 62901 Carbondale, IllinoisSearch for more papers by this authorDeirdre Williams, Deirdre Williams Psychology Department, Southern Illinois University, 62901 Carbondale, IllinoisSearch for more papers by this authorDoreen Stewart, Doreen Stewart Psychology Department, Southern Illinois University, 62901 Carbondale, IllinoisSearch for more papers by this author Alan Vaux, Corresponding Author Alan Vaux Psychology Department, Southern Illinois University, 62901 Carbondale, IllinoisSearch for more papers by this authorJeffrey Phillips, Jeffrey Phillips Psychology Department, Southern Illinois University, 62901 Carbondale, IllinoisSearch for more papers by this authorLori Holly, Lori Holly Psychology Department, Southern Illinois University, 62901 Carbondale, IllinoisSearch for more papers by this authorBrian Thomson, Brian Thomson Psychology Department, Southern Illinois University, 62901 Carbondale, IllinoisSearch for more papers by this authorDeirdre Williams, Deirdre Williams Psychology Department, Southern Illinois University, 62901 Carbondale, IllinoisSearch for more papers by this authorDoreen Stewart, Doreen Stewart Psychology Department, Southern Illinois University, 62901 Carbondale, IllinoisSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 April 1986 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00911821Citations: 277AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume14, Issue2April 1986Pages 195-218 RelatedInformation

Comparing Perceived Social Support and Perceived Stress in Healthy Pregnant Women and Pregnant Women with Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a prevalent side effect of pregnancy. Different studies have reported different results about the relationship between mental stress and blood pressure disorders. In addition, social support is highly important to help women who experience risky pregnancy in adapting to the stressors they experience. This study aimed to compare perceived social support and perceived stress in women with and without preeclampsia. Fifty pregnant women definitely diagnosed with preeclampsia and 50 healthy pregnant women visiting public hospitals including Hazrat Masoumeh, Motazedi, and Imam Reza in Kermanshah-Iran took part in a descriptiveanalytical study from June 2017 to January 2018. Data gathering tools included demographics questionnaire, social support appraisals scale and perceived stress scale. The collected data was analyzed with SPSS (v.20) using independent t-test. The mean score of perceived social support in the preeclampsia and non-preeclampsia groups were 69.88±7.3 and 76.80±7.6 respectively (P<0.01). The mean score of perceived stress in the preeclampsia and non-preeclampsia groups were 35.6±8.7 and 26.01±5.56 respectively (P<0.01). This means that compared with healthy women, women with preeclampsia perceived more stress and less social support. In comparison with healthy pregnant women, women with preeclampsia perceived more stress and less social support. Healthcare providers should recommended to pay more attention to improving social support and attenuating stress in pregnant women.