Friend Social Support Research Articles

Paternal involvement and support and risk of preterm birth: findings from the Boston birth cohort

Objective: To investigate to what extent paternal involvement and support during pregnancy were associated with preterm (PTB) and small-for-gestational age (SGA) births.Methods: Using data from the Boston Birth Cohort (n = 7047), multiple logistic regression models were performed to estimate the log odds of either PTB or SGA birth, with paternal involvement, paternal social support, and family and friend social support variables as the primary independent variables.Results: About 10% of participating mothers reported their husbands not being involved or supportive during their pregnancies. Lack of paternal involvement was associated with 21% higher risk of PTB (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01–1.45). Similarly, lack of paternal support was borderline associated with PTB (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.94–1.35). Also marginally significant, lack of paternal involvement (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.95–1.47) and father’s support (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.96–1.48) were associated with higher odds of SGA birth. No associations were found between familial and friend support during pregnancy and PTB or SGA.Conclusions: Among predominantly low-income African Americans, lack of paternal involvement and lack of paternal support during pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of PTB, and suggestive of SGA birth. These findings, if confirmed in future research, underscore the important role a father can play in reducing PTB and/or SGA.

Social Cognitive Factors, Physical Activity, and Mobility Impairment in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis

ABSTRACTAmong those with multiple sclerosis (MS), mobility impairment is common and significantly affects independent functioning and quality of life. The purpose of the study was to examine the role of physical activity in mobility impairment in individuals with MS and explore the social cognitive factors of social support, outcome expectations, and self-efficacy that facilitate physical activity among those with the disease. A sample of 319 individuals with MS were assessed on the following: family and friend social support, self-efficacy, and physical and social outcome expectations. Self-reported physical activity, perceived ambulation disability, balance confidence, and fall history were also measured. The structural model fit the data (χ2 (29) = 24.49, p = 0.70; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation < 0.01; Comparative Fit Index = 1.0; Normed Fit Index = 0.96; Goodness of Fit Index = 0.98; Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.03). The primary findings of the study revealed that physical activity was strongly linked to mobility impairment (path coefficient, –0.43), such that increasing levels of physical activity were associated with less mobility impairment. The most important predictors of health-promoting levels of physical activity were self-efficacy (path coefficient, 0.48) and social support (path coefficient, 0.38), with support from friends being a stronger indicator of social support than support from family. It may be prudent to design interventions aimed at increasing physical activity, especially in regard to helping individuals become more efficacious and building larger social networks, as this may serve to forestall advancing mobility impairment in those with MS.

Evidence of the paradoxical effect of social network support: A study among Filipino domestic workers in China

Labor migrants are at an increased risk for poor mental health. Post-migration stressors contribute significantly to this risk. Social network supports are vitally important to protect health but little is known about the role of social network supports among labor migrants. The current study evaluated the role of migration stressors on poor mental health among Filipino female domestic workers (FDW) and whether family and friend social network support (SNS) modified this relationship. Data were collected from 261 FDWs in Macau, China from May to September 2013. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to test for direct and moderating effects of social networks on psychological distress. Post-migration stress was associated with increased anxiety, depression, somatization, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. SNS from family was not associated with the four psychological symptoms nor did it modify the association between stress and these symptoms. SNS from friends was positively associated with these symptoms, and significantly moderated the relationship between stress and these symptoms. Counterintuitive to the known buffering effects of SNS, greater SNS was associated with greater psychological symptoms among FDWs exposed to post-migration stressors. The present findings suggest that reliance on SNS to cope with post-migration stressors may worsen psychological distress.

Effects of Social Support on Physical Activity Participation in College Freshman

Approximately 1 in 6 college aged adults in the Unites States engage in no leisure time physical activity. Still, a paucity of literature exists regarding what influences physical activity participation in this age group. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of social support on physical activity participation in college freshman enrolled in the HERD (Higher Education Reducing Diabetes) Study at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. METHODS: The HERD Study is a prospective, randomized study examining the effects of a freshman year, healthy lifestyle intervention on the reduction of student’s risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic disease. Freshman students were recruited during the University’s Week of Welcome activities throughout campus. Physical activity measures, cardiometabolic health parameters and other demographics were obtained at baseline. Social Support was assessed by the Social Support and Exercise Survey; a 13 item, Likert scale survey that queries about family and friends social support for exercise over the past 3 months. RESULTS: To date, 76 freshmen have enrolled into the HERD Study [age = 18.5 ± 2.36 years; female = 60.5% (n = 46); 85.5% Caucasian (n = 65); BMI = 26.5 ± 5.85 kg/m2; VO2max = 35.4 + 9.3 ml/kg/min]. Roughly 44% (n = 33) reported engaging in regular exercise, however, of those, only 9.2% meet the recommendations of the aerobic guidelines for American adults and 26.3% meet the resistance training criteria. Those who participate in regular exercise where significantly more likely to report that friends help to: plan activities around their exercise, exercise with them, or ask them about how they (the friend) can adopt more exercise compared to their non- exercising counterparts (p = .026, p = .037 and p = .015, respectively). Moreover, those who participate in regular exercise were more likely to report that their family makes plans for exercise on recreational outings compared to their non-exercising counterparts (p = .042). CONCLUSION: Support from both friends and family appears to play a decisive role in the adoption and adherence to regular physical activity in late teenage years. Physical activity interventions should include strategies to promote peer social support in the college setting to enhance physical activity participation in college students.

Age moderates the relationship between source of social support and mental health in racial minority lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth.

We examined the relationship between source of social support and mental health (and the moderating impact of age) in 64 low socioeconomic status, racial minority lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents/young adults. Social support from family ( β = -.302, p = .03; β = -.364, p = .008), but not friends or significant others, was independently related to posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms, respectively. Family social support was associated with lower posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms in participants aged 16-19 years, while friend social support was associated with lower symptoms for participants aged over 20 years. Friend social support was also associated with lower posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in participants aged 16-17 years. Interventions should target age-appropriate sources of social support.

Whose Support Matters? Support of Friends (but Not Family) May Predict Affect and Wellbeing of Adults Faced With Negative Life Events

Research on resilience has shown that resilient individuals possess a variety of internal characteristics (e.g., hardiness and reflectiveness) and a mixture of external characteristics (e.g., social contact and relationship recruiting) that interact to promote resilience. This research examined the relationship between social support of friends, social support of family, and resiliency to further understand the impact of social contact on psychological health and wellbeing. Study 1 showed that in the face of self-reported difficult life circumstances, friend support (but not family support) predicts most aspects of psychological wellbeing. Similarly, Study 2 found that previous reports of friend (but not family) support predicted positive affect for participants in a simulated achievement rejection experimental condition. Taken together, these studies suggest that among adults, perceived social support from friends may be more impactful than social support from family.

Associations between Parental and Friend Social Support and Children's Physical Activity and Time Spent outside Playing.

The purpose of this study was to examine the structural validity of a parent and a child questionnaire that assessed parental and friends' influences on children's physical activity and investigate the associations between the derived factors, physical activity, and time spent outside. Children (N = 154, mean age = 11.7) and 144 of their parents completed questionnaires assessing parental and friends' influences on children's physical activity. Children wore a pedometer for six days. Exploratory factor analyses revealed four factors for the parental and five for the child's questionnaire that explained 66.71% and 63.85% of the variance, respectively. Five factors were significantly associated with physical activity and five significantly associated with time spent outside. Higher correlations were revealed between “general friend support,” “friends' activity norms,” and physical activity (r = 0.343 and 0.333 resp., p < 0.001) and between “general friend support” and time spent outside (r = 0.460, p < 0.001). Obtaining information relating to parental and friends' influences on physical activity from both parents and children may provide a more complete picture of influences. Parents and friends seem to influence children's physical activity behavior and time spent outside, but friends' influences may have a stronger impact on children's behaviors.

War and disaster in Sri Lanka: Implications for widows' family adjustment and perception of self-efficacy in caring for one's family.

The data for this study were collected in 2014 from widows in Eastern Sri Lanka whose spouses died in the civil war, tsunami, or from health-related problems. Conservation of resources (COR) theory was used as a lens to examine the extent to which war and tsunami-related damages and family problems predict variation in social support, family adjustment and a perception of self-efficacy in caring for one's family as reported by widowed women. We also investigated whether social support from the community and social support from family and friends mediated those relationships. Results of a path model fit to the data suggested variation in family adjustment to be negatively predicted by war-related family problems and positively predicted by the social support of friends and family. Additionally, a sense of self-efficacy in caring for one's family was found to be inversely predicted by war-related family problems and tsunami damages. Clinical, social and theoretical implications are discussed as well as directions for further research.

Social support, social strain, sleep quality, and actigraphic sleep characteristics: evidence from a national survey of US adults

ObjectiveTo determine the associations between average family and friend social support and strain over 10 years and sleep quality, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and night-to-night total sleep time variability. ParticipantsNon-institutionalized English-speaking US adults aged 34–81 who participated in the MacArthur Study on Aging: Midlife in the United States. MeasurementsSleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and by a 7-day daily diary. Sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and night-to-night total sleep time variability were assessed by actigraphy (MiniMitter 64). ResultsSocial support, but not social strain, was significantly associated with both self-reported measures of quality (social support β=−1.239, P=.019 for global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores; social support β=−0.248, P=.016 for diary assessed quality). Lower scores on both quality measures indicate better sleep. In contrast, social strain, but not social support, was significantly associated with sleep efficiency (social strain β=−3.780, P=.007). Social strain, but not social support, was significantly associated with night-to-night sleep variability (social strain β=0.421, P=.034); however, the overall model was not significant. Neither social support nor social strain was significantly associated with total sleep time. ConclusionSocial support was significant for self-reported sleep, whereas only social strain was significantly associated with objective sleep parameters. Future research on social relationships and sleep should analyze both positive and negative aspects of relationships in tandem because effects appear to differ based on outcome.

Cross-cultural equivalence and psychometric proprieties of the social support scale for healthy eating habits

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the cross-cultural equivalence and psychometric proprieties of the Brazilian version of the Eating Habits Social Support Scale. Methods: The scale was administered to 381 subjects aged 24 to 86 years from Recife and Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Cross-cultural equivalence was evaluated by expert agreement. The psychometric proprieties were assessed by factor validity (factor analysis), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), and reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient), using a test-retest with an interval of seven days. Results: Factor analysis identified two factors for each social support group (friends and family). The questions were clustered by type of social support (positive or negative comments). The eigenvalues for family social support were 3.22 and 3.00, corresponding to 62.2% of the total variance. For friend social support, the eigenvalues were 3.02 and 2.95, explaining 59.7% of the total variance. In the internal consistency analysis, the alpha values ranged from 0.83 to 0.75. The reproducibility intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.676 to 0.873. All these values were acceptable, indicating the validity and reliability of the scale. Conclusion: The Brazilian version of the Eating Habits Social Support Scale presented cross-cultural equivalence and psychometric characteristics that were appropriate for Brazilian adults and older adults. This scale is easy to use and obtained high scores for question clarity and answer options.

Social and Psychological Factors Associated With Adolescent Physical Activity.

The purpose of this study was to examine, using structural equation modeling, the associations between nominated friend physical activity (PA), friend social support with individual PA-related psychological factors, and adolescent PA. Data were obtained from EAT 2010 (Eating and Activity Among Teens), a large cross-sectional study conducted in 20 middle and high schools. The sample consisted of 1951 adolescents (mean age: 14.25 ± 1.96, 54% female, 68% ethnic minorities). PA, parent and friend social support (perceived social support for PA from parents and friends), and psychological measures (PA enjoyment, PA self-efficacy, and PA barriers) were assessed by self-report questionnaires. The SEM analysis consisted of 1 observed variable: friend PA, and 2 latent constructs: psychological factors, perceived social support. The model was a good fit, indicating that there were significant direct effects of both friend PA (P < .01) and psychological factors (P < .0001) on adolescent PA. In addition, psychological factors mediated the association between friend PA and adolescent PA. The results of this model suggest that psychological factors and friend PA are associated with adolescent PA, and that psychological factors may play an important role. Future studies should further examine the association of both friend PA and psychological variables with adolescent PA.

Parent and Friend Social Support and Adolescent Hope.

The purpose of this study was to conduct two meta-analyses. The first examined social support from parents in relation to adolescent hope, and the second examined social support from friends in relation to adolescent hope. Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for the literature reviewed, nine published studies or doctoral dissertations completed between 1990 and 2014 met the inclusion criteria. Using meta-analytic techniques and the mean weighted r statistic, the results indicated that social support from friends had a stronger mean effect size (ES = .31) than social support from parents (ES = .21); there was a statistically significant difference between the two ESs. Two of the four moderators for the parent social support-adolescent hope relationship were statistically significant. They were quality score and health status. Implications for school nurses and nurses in all settings are addressed, and conclusions are drawn based on the findings.

Correlation of quality of life and significant seasonal fluctuations blood pressure in the morning hours in patients with arterial hypertension

The aim of the present study was to identify the relationship between the quality of life of patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and the degree of seasonal fluctuations in blood pressure (BP) in the morning hours in these patients, as well as to trace the seasonal dynamics of the average morning levels of blood pressure in this group of patients. We analyzed the database of various studies carried out in our center between 1996 and 2011, which contained data 953 ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). ABPM data were analyzed in patients with hypertension, without serious comorbidities, who conducted blood pressure monitoring on a weekly background of antihypertensive therapy. Results of the study. It has been shown that diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the morning (at) was the highest in winter (83.5±13.7 mm Hg), at the lowest - in summer (80.2±11.5 mm Hg), which was typical of the seasonal dynamics of blood pressure generally. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) was characterized by the highest level of the fall in blood pressure (133.3±18.7 mm Hg). The smallest - in the winter (131,8 B±17,6 mm Hg). The differences between the seasons are not reliable. When analyzing the results by using generalized linear models (Generalized Linear Models) and calculating the Fisher's exact test (F) The following patterns were identified. Intensity of seasonal increases in blood pressure (compared with the average level of blood pressure) was inversely related to the level of social support of friends, colleagues, relatives (Scale VI Quality of Life Questionnaire) (for F DBP was 4.29 (p

Validity and reliability of scales on intrapersonal, interpersonal and environmental factors associated with physical activity in Brazilian secondary students

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2016v18n2p207 This study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of scales of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors associated with physical activity (PA) in secondary students. Two cross-sectional studies were conducted with students in 7th to 9th grades form secondary schools in order to test the validity, internal consistency (n = 1,178, 51.4% were boys), and test–retest reproducibility (n = 194, 56.2% were boys) of the instrument. Factors associated with PA (attitude, self-efficacy, social support of friends, parents and the school’s teachers, as well as the perceived neighborhood environment and perceived school environment) were measured. The confirmatory factor analysis and Spearman correlation between the scales and the weekly time spent in moderateto-vigorous PA (measured by questionnaire) were applied to test the construct validity. For reliability, the Cronbach’s α (internal consistency), composite reliability (CR) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC for test–retest reproducibility) were applied. The confirmatory factorial analysis showed five one-dimensional and two two-dimensional (self-efficacy and perceived environment) scales, with factor loadings ranging from 0.46 to 0.85. Significant and positive correlations between almost all scale scores and moderateto-vigorous PA (p&lt;0.05) were found. The Cronbach’s α and CR were greater than 0.70 in almost all scales (except perceived school environment, α and CR of 0.61) and the ICC ranged from 0.62 (parental social support) to 0.70 (self-efficacy). In conclusion, the scales showed acceptable validity and reliability and can be used for measuring of PA correlates in elementary students.

Overweight and isolated

This longitudinal study investigates whether there are particularly salient ages when being overweight is related to problems in interpersonal relationships (i.e., physical, relational, and verbal victimization, lack of friend social support, dating status, and romantic relationship worries). Participants were from a large, six-wave longitudinal study (N = 662, 48% males, M age at T1 = 15.5 years, SD = 1.9 years). We use time-varying effect models to estimate how the associations between weight status and interpersonal problems differ from ages 12 to 28. Gender differences are also investigated. Findings show that youth who are overweight are more likely to experience verbal victimization, feel less supported by their peers, and are less likely to date than youth who are not overweight from mid-adolescence into early young adulthood. Further, females who are overweight are more likely to be physically victimized at ages 15 to 22 than females who are not overweight. The results provide a better understanding of age-related changes in interpersonal problems among youth who are overweight from adolescence into young adulthood.

Behavior-Specific Influences for Physical Activity Among African American Women.

The purpose of this study was to describe physical activity (PA) behaviors and physical functioning of prehypertensive and Stage I hypertensive African American Women (AAW) and to examine the relationships between PA behavior, physical functioning, personal factors, and behavior-specific influences. Pender's Health Promotion Model was the conceptual framework for the study. A cross-sectional design and convenience sample were used. The PA domain where the greatest amount of time was spent was in work-related activity, followed by household, leisure time, and transportation activity. Personal factors most strongly correlated to lower PA were greater body mass index and waist circumference. AAW perceived moderate barriers to PA and minimal family and friend social support for PA. Future interventions need to focus on removing barriers to and improving social support for PA among AAW.

Effectiveness of group CBT in treating adolescents with depression symptoms: a critical review

Depression is among the most common psychological disorders of adolescents. Its management is based on pharmacological treatment, psychological therapy, or a combination thereof. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most extensively tested intervention for adolescent depression. A PubMed search was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCT) of the efficacy of CBT in treating adolescents with depressive symptoms published in 2005-2015. Keywords were "cognitive behavioral therapy", "group therapy", "depression" and "adolescent". Of the 23 papers that were retrieved, only six met all inclusion criteria. Three of them reported a significant reduction in depressive symptom severity after either individual or group (G)-CBT compared with the control group, even with a small number of CBT sessions (six rather than 10-12), with a medium or medium-to-large effect size. One study reported improved self-awareness and a significantly greater increase in perceived friend social support compared with bibliotherapy and check with brochure. Two studies reported clinical symptom reduction without significant differences compared with the control group (activity contrast). This review highlighted primarily that very few RCT have applied CBT in adolescents; moreover, it confirmed the effectiveness of G-CBT, especially as psychotherapy, although it was not always superior to other interventions (e.g. other activities in prevention programs). Comparison showed that G-CBT and group interpersonal psychotherapy were both effective in reducing depressive symptoms. Successful G-CBT outcomes were related to the presence of peers, who were an important source of feedback and support to observe, learn, and practice new skills to manage depressive symptoms and improve social-relational skills.

Effects of psychosocial variables in the similarity and interdependence of physical activity levels among adolescent best friend dyads

ABSTRACTGiven that physical activity (PA) tends to decrease with age during adolescence, addressing factors that affect change is important. This study examined the similarity and interdependence of PA as influenced by psychosocial factors among adolescent best friend dyads. A total of 660 adolescents, representing 330 best friend dyads, completed questionnaires with regard to PA, sitting time, perceived exercise benefits and barriers, physical self-perception and social support for PA. Dyads were also identified as reciprocal and non-reciprocal best friends; reciprocal means that both considered each other best friends and non-reciprocal were those in which only one considered the other a best friend. Data were analysed using a hierarchical linear model framework. Results indicated significant similarities between reciprocal best friend dyads for PA and sitting time, and for sitting time in non-reciprocal best friends (P values <.01). Psychosocial variables were associated with PA in reciprocal best friend dyads and with sitting time in reciprocal and non-reciprocal best friend dyads. Best friend gender, regular sports practice of the person, perceived exercise barriers of the best friend and best friend social support were the best predictors for PA.

Teacher and Friend Social Support: Association with Body Weight in African-American Adolescent Females.

The purpose of this study was to examine the direct and indirect ecological influences of teacher and friend social support on body weight and diet behaviors in African-American adolescent females. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional research design, a convenience sample of 182 urban African-American adolescent females (12-17 years old) completed a 39-item questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed perceived teacher social support, friend social support, nutrition self-efficacy, and diet behaviors (with internal reliability values of scale items: alpha = 0.74, 0.81, 0.77, and 0.69 respectively). Anthropometric assessments were conducted to measure height and weight to compute BMI. Majority of the participants were in middle or early high school (65 %) and were overweight or obese (57.7 %). Both teacher social support and friend social support demonstrated a positive, indirect influence on child weight status through nutrition self-efficacy and diet behaviors following two different and specific paths of influence. Diet behaviors, in turn, demonstrated a positive, direct effect on child weight status. In the structural model, teacher social support had the greatest effect on diet behaviors, demonstrating a direct, positive influence on diet behaviors (B = 0.421, p < 0.05), but its direct effect on nutrition self-efficacy was not significant. Friend social support demonstrated a positive, direct effect on nutrition self-efficacy (B = 0.227, p < 0.05), but its direct effect on diet behaviors was not statistically significant. The study's findings call for actively addressing the childhood obesity epidemic in the school environment by implementing health behavior change strategies at various social and ecological environmental levels.

Intrapersonal and social environment correlates of leisure-time physical activity for cancer prevention: a cross-sectional study among Canadian adults.

Little is known about the intrapersonal and social factors associated with sufficient physical activity (PA) for cancer prevention, which is greater than for cardiovascular health. 1087 and 1684 randomly selected men and women, age 35-64, completed self-administered questionnaires on PA behavior and psycho-social characteristics. Using gender-stratified logistic regression, we investigated correlates of compliance with Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology PA guidelines for general health (150 min/wk), and the American Cancer Society (ACS; 225 min/wk) and World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AIRC; 420 min/wk) guidelines for cancer prevention. Only 39% and 19% of men and women met ACS and WCRF/AICR guidelines, respectively. Self-efficacy, scheduling PA and friend social support were positively correlated with recommended PA for cancer prevention. In men, poor self-rated health and perceived negative outcomes were negatively correlated and hypertension was positively correlated with meeting cancer prevention guidelines. For women, not being married and having a companion for PA were positively correlated with meeting cancer prevention guidelines. Few adults participate in sufficient PA for cancer risk reduction. Multidimensional public health strategies that incorporate intrapersonal and social factors and are tailored for each gender are needed to promote PA for cancer prevention.