Measures Of Social Support Research Articles

The Importance of Social Support in Recovery Populations: Toward a Multilevel Understanding

ABSTRACT Although social support is commonly investigated in the context of substance use recovery, researchers have widely neglected its multilevel nature, thus limiting what we know about its measurement across levels of observation. The current study used multilevel confirmatory factor analyses (MCFA) on 229 individuals living in 42 recovery homes to investigate the structure of single factor of social support at the individual and house-levels. Multilevel structural equation model (MSEM) was then conducted to examine whether the social support factor was associated with stress at the individual and house-levels. MCFA results showed that within individuals, all social support measures were significant and positive while at the house-level, there were a few discrepancies (e.g. network size was negative). Stress was significantly and negatively related to the social support factor at the individual-level, but this association was positive at the house-level. These findings suggest that on an individual-level, a person’s perception and source of social support is particularly important – even if the source of support comes from someone who is not abstinent. On a house-level, social support is more sensitive to outside influences than within individuals. Implications for future research and substance use interventions targeting social support are discussed.

Ethnicity, Social Support and Oral Health Among English Individuals.

To determine whether social support explains ethnic inequalities in oral health among English individuals. Data from 42704 individuals across seven ethnic groups in the Health Survey for England (1999-2002 and 2005) were analysed. Oral health was indicated by self-reports of edentulousness and toothache. Social support was indicated by marital status and a 7-item scale on perceived social support. Confounder-adjusted regression models were fitted to evaluate ethnic inequalities in measures of social support and oral health (before and after adjustment for social support). Overall, 10.4% of individuals were edentulous and 21.7% of dentate individuals had toothache in the past 6 months. Indian (Odd Ratio: 0.50, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.32-0.78), Pakistani (0.50, 95%CI: 0.30-0.84), Bangladeshi (0.29, 95%CI: 0.17-0.47) and Chinese (0.42, 95%CI: 0.25-0.71) individuals were less likely to be edentulous than white British individuals. Among dentate participants, Irish (1.21, 95%CI: 1.06-1.38) and black Caribbean individuals (1.37, 95%CI: 1.18-1.58) were more likely whereas Chinese individuals (0.78, 95%CI: 0.63-0.97) were less likely to experience toothache than white British individuals. These inequalities were marginally attenuated after adjustment for marital status and perceived social support. Lack of social support was associated with being edentulousness and having toothache whereas marital status was associated with edentulousness only. The findings did not support the mediating role of social support in the association between ethnicity and oral health. However, perceived lack of social support was inversely associated with worse oral health independent of participants' sociodemographic factors.

Racial Differences in C-Reactive Protein, Depression Symptoms, and Social Relationships in Older Adults: A Moderated Network Analysis.

We introduce moderated network analysis as an integrative approach to assess the moderation effects of race on the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) and depression symptoms in older adults. This study further explores how the observed relationships differ adjusting for social relationships. This secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (2010-2011) includes 2,880 older adults. We used different depression symptom domains (depressed affect, low positive affect, somatic symptoms, and interpersonal problems) from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. Social relationships were assessed with measures of social integration, social support, and social strain. The moderated networks were constructed using the R-package mgm. The racial moderator was coded as White/African American racial groups. In the moderated networks of CRP and depression symptoms, CRP-"interpersonal problems" edge was present only among African Americans. CRP-"somatic symptoms" edge was present in both racial groups with equal edge weights. After adjusting for social relationships, the aforementioned patterns remained the same, but the edge weights were attenuated. We additionally observed CRP-social strain and social integration-"depressed affect" edges only in African Americans. Race may moderate the relationship between the CRP and depression symptoms in older adults and social relationships might be important covariates to consider while analyzing them. This study as an initiation point; future network investigations would benefit from leveraging more contemporary cohorts of older adults, gaining a large sample size with diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds, and important covariates. Several important methodological issues of the current study are addressed.

의과대학생의 학습몰입과 자아존중감, 자기통제능력, 스트레스 대처방식 간의 관계

Objectives This study was conducted to identify the characteristics and relationships of psychological factors and behavioral methods such as stress coping methods, self-esteem, and self-control ability to the learning flow of medical students.
 Methods 141 1st-grade medical students participated in the study, and data were collected in the form of a questionnaire through learning flow, stress coping methods, self-esteem, and self-control ability test tools. The collected data were statistically analyzed. An independent sample t-test was conducted to confirm the difference between genders. Correlation analysis was conducted to confirm the correlation between variables, and multiple regression analysis was conducted to confirm the factors affecting the learning flow.
 Results It was confirmed that female students had statistically higher self-purpose experiences in learning flow and social support coping among active stress coping methods than male students. In addition, self-esteem, self-control ability, and active stress coping methods showed a correlation and effect with learning flow, but passive stress coping methods did not show a correlation with learning flow and did not have an effect.
 Conclusions It is necessary to consider the curriculum and teaching strategy so that medical students can enjoy the medical learning behavior itself and enhance their experience of learning flow. In addition, education and counseling to improve students' self-esteem and self-control skills should be combined, and social support is needed to take problem-oriented and social support measures in stressful situations.

Later Life as a Daring Experience: Factors Associated with Older Adults’ Risk Perception

ABSTRACT Risk perception refers to people’s subjective judgments about the possibility of negative occurrences and the extent to which they are concerned with them. Previous studies have found that older adults who were exposed to ongoing terror threats developed later-life and terror risk perceptions. These studies showed that high risk perception has negative psychological and physiological consequences. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the development of both later-life risk perception and terror risk perception in later life. Data were collected via an online survey with 306 Internet users aged 50 years and over, half resided in a high-risk zone while the remainder lived in a low-risk zone. The Perceived Risk Scale, measures of depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, social support, spirituality, internet use, and personal background were applied. Low self-rated health was associated with terror and later-life risk perceptions, regardless of the risk zone. After controlling for personal background, only depressive symptoms significantly correlated with high risk perceptions. These findings suggest that older adults with poorer self-rated health, secular beliefs, and elevated depressive symptoms may be susceptible to developing high risk perceptions. Clinicians should encourage older adults to identify preserving resources to improve adjustment to late life stressors.

Mental health and social support among glaucoma patients enrolled in the NIH All of Us COVID-19 Participant Experience (COPE) survey

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic created many challenges for our society. In this study, we explore how measures of mental health, coping strategies, and social support during the pandemic varied by glaucoma status.MethodsA cohort of patients aged 40 and over enrolled in the NIH All of Us Research Program, a nationwide longitudinal cohort, who answered the COVID-19 Participant Experience (COPE) survey was obtained. We analyzed several measures of mental health, coping strategies, and social support used during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys were recurring and answered from May 2020 to February 2021. Demographics and the most recently answered survey responses were obtained and stratified by glaucoma status. Pearson’s Chi-squared tests and multivariable logistic regressions adjusting for age, gender, race, ethnicity, and income were used to generate p-values, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between outcome measures and glaucoma status.ResultsOf 42,484 patients who responded to All of Us COPE survey items, 2912 (6.9%) had a diagnosis of glaucoma. On Pearson’s Chi-squared tests glaucoma patients were less likely to report drinking alcohol (P = 0.003), eating more food than usual (P = 0.004), and using marijuana (P = 0.006) to cope with social distancing than those without a diagnosis of glaucoma. Further, glaucoma patients had lower rates of probable mild, moderate, or severe depression as calculated by Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores (P < 0.001) and had lower rates of reporting some or a lot of stress from social distancing (P < 0.001). However, glaucoma patients were less likely to report having someone to help prepare meals (P = 0.005) or help with daily chores (P = 0.003) if they became sick with COVID-19. In multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusting for confounding factors, no differences were found for measures of mental health or social support.ConclusionsGlaucoma patients did not fare worse on many measures of mental health and coping strategies during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic compared those without glaucoma. However, a substantial proportion of glaucoma patients still endorsed stress, social isolation, and probable depression, representing challenges for disease management.

Characteristics of highly prolific PA authors who contributed research to JAAPA and JPAE.

Highly published physician associate/assistant (PA) researchers were surveyed to quantify experienced support patterns that may inform increased support of PA-led research. Publication volume of authors of research articles published in JAAPA and the Journal of Physician Assistant Education (JPAE) between 2011 and 2020 was recorded. PAs in the upper quartile were emailed surveys containing demographics and 25 Likert-scale questions. Descriptive statistics and binomial exact test were completed. Sixty-five of the 73 PAs were contacted by email; 26 participated; and 35% were female. Social support measures were high; respondents were mentors and mentees, who work collaboratively. Material support and educational support measures were lower and most reported no funding nor pay for research; they did not learn research skills in PA school. However, they feel recognized, and find joy in research. Successful PA researchers find joy despite low material support regarding funding, pay, and protected time. Women and racial minorities were underrepresented; research is needed to examine potential barriers.

Trajectories of intimate partner violence (IPV) in a primary care cohort of women with depressive symptoms

Aims:To assess trajectories of women’s experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) over time, and baseline risk factors and associated four-year outcomes for different trajectories. Design:A cohort study of 548 women with depressive symptoms, attending primary care appointments, were surveyed annually for four years. Secondary analysis was undertaken using growth mixture modelling to generate IPV trajectories. Analyses of associations of these generated classes of IPV with hypothesised baseline and four-year measures were undertaken. Results:At baseline, 42% (231) women experienced IPV in past 12 months. Five-class IPV trajectory model showed five groups over time: consistently ‘high IPV’ (5%, n=28), ‘some IPV’ (14%, n=77), ‘minimal IPV’ (9%, n=52), ‘decreasing IPV’ (11%, n=62), and ‘no IPV’ (60%, n=329). Baseline differences showed women in ‘high’ and ‘some’ group had more childhood abuse, low income and poor mental health compared to ‘minimal’ or ‘no IPV’ groups. At four years, ‘decreasing IPV’ group was aligned with ‘minimal/no IPV’ groups on mental health, quality of life and social support measures. Conclusion:Women exhibited different trajectories of IPV over time with high burden of mental health problems, except for when IPV decreases. Clinical identification of IPV and tailoring of responses to decrease exposure to IPV is warranted to reduce disease burden.

'With a Little Help from My Friends': Emotional Intelligence, Social Support, and Distress during the COVID-19 Outbreak.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a global existential social and health challenge, with individuals suffering mentally and psychologically. College and university students are young adults, typically away from their natural support systems; with pandemic-imposed measures such as isolation, they may have been at higher risk of experiencing negative psychological outcomes. The study tested a model in which social support mediated the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and a latent factor representing general mental distress at the height of the COVID-19 crisis in Poland. One hundred and fifty-nine young adults filled in measures of trait EI, psychological and instrumental social support, three distress measures (depression, anxiety, and stress), and demographics. The results supported a model in which psychological social support (but not instrumental social support) mediated the association between trait EI and a factor representing all three distress measures. The results shed light on how individual and social resources work together to help maintain psychological integrity in times of crisis. They add to recent results on the differential effects of psychological-emotional and instrumental social support on distress and well-being.

A Qualitative Study of the Learning Management Experience of Grandparents in Families

본 연구는 현상학적 방법을 통해 조손가정 조부모의 학습관리 경험이 어떠한지 살펴보기 위해 수행되었다. 분석 결과, 손자녀 학습지도, 학부모로서 학교행사 참여, 손자녀의 교우관계, 학습습관 및 생활태도, 학부모 및 학교 네트워크의 5개 주제가 나타났으며, 이 다섯 가지의 주제에 따른 14가지 하위주제(손자녀 학습지도에 대한 능력 부족, 교우관계 형성 어려움에 대한 걱정, 기초학력부족에 대한 염려 등)가 도출되었다. 본 연구는 현상학적 연구를 통해 조손가정 조부모의 손자녀 양육과정에서의 학습관리 경험을 구체적으로 밝혔으며 교육적ㆍ사회적ㆍ심리정서적 지원방안을 모색하고 제안하였다는 점에서 의의가 크다. 연구결과를 토대로 시사점과 제언이 제시되었다.This study was conducted to examine the learning management experience of grandparents in their families through a phenomenological method. As a result of the analysis, five topics (learning guidance for grandchildren, participation in school events as parents, peer relationships with grandchildren, study habits and lifestyle, and school networks) appeared, and 14 sub-topics were derived according to the themes. The significance of this study is that the grandparents' experience of learning management in the process of raising their grandchildren was specifically revealed through phenomenological research, and that educational, social, and psycho-emotional support measures were proposed. Implications and suggestions were presented based on the research results.

A Longitudinal Study Exploring the Role of Mental Health Symptoms and Social Support Regarding Life Satisfaction 18 Months after Initiation of Gender-Affirming Hormone Treatment.

While positive changes in mental health have been found following gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT), it is unclear how pre-GAHT mental health and social support can influence treatment outcomes. To address this, a retrospective longitudinal design was used in which 137 participants completed measures of social support, anxiety, and depression prior to GAHT (T0) and a measure of life satisfaction 18 months after GAHT (T1). The data showed no significant differences in life satisfaction at T1 based on T0 caseness of anxiety or depression. It was also found that T1 life satisfaction was not predicted by levels of anxiety, depression, or social support at T0. The lack of significant differences in life satisfaction at 18 months post-GAHT based on pre-GAHT mental health, coupled with no evidence for the predictive role social support suggest that these factors are not central to long-term life satisfaction. For many, lower mental wellbeing may be part of the experience of awaiting GAHT and should not be regarded as indicative of longer-term issues. Instead, facilitation of social support connections and mental health support should be offered both concurrently with, and for those awaiting, GAHT.

“A Love–Hate Relationship with What I Do”: Protecting the Mental Health of Animal Care Workers

ABSTRACT Mental ill-health associated with animal care work, coupled with a current shortage of animal care workers (ACWs), highlights the need to support this population’s wellbeing. Guided by the Job Demands-Resources model of burnout and the principles of positive occupational health psychology, we aimed to explore mental ill-health in ACWs and identify potential risks and protective factors for their wellbeing. ACWs (n = 217) completed an anonymous online questionnaire with measures of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, psychological distress, burnout, grief, social support, organizational support, and empathy for animals. We also asked an open question about what participants liked about their work. Our sample had a higher incidence of mental ill-health than the Australian general population. Multiple regression analyses suggested grief may be a job demand for ACWs, significantly accounting for 2.8–4.3% of the variance in burnout. Likewise, organizational support may be a job resource for ACWs, significantly accounting for 17.3–25.5% of the variance in burnout. Finally, qualitative content analysis indicated that ACWs enjoyed professional accomplishments, interpersonal interactions, and contact with animals as part of their work. We discuss our results and how they may be used to inform the implementation of workplace changes that support ACWs’ wellbeing.

Relationships of Social Support and Activity Attachment with Purpose in Life among Older Forest Bathers: A Mediated Model

Forest bathing as a recreation activity may connect to experiences of social support, activity attachment, and purpose in life (PIL) among older adults. However, it is unclear whether activity attachment mediates the relationship between social support and PIL experienced by older forest bathers. To address this area of limited research, we examined such a mediated relationship in this population. In total, 292 older forest bathers completed a survey including measures of social support, activity attachment, and PIL. We performed structural equation modeling to analyze data. Results indicated that high levels of social support predicted high levels of activity attachment; high levels of activity attachment predicted high levels of PIL; and high levels of social support predicted high levels of PIL. Therefore, it is advantageous to create contexts and situations conducive for forest bathing to develop social support when practitioners attempt to help older adults foster activity attachment and PIL.

Associations Between Primary Residence and Mental Health in Global Marginalized Populations.

Scholars suggest that marginalized people in non-urban areas experience higher distress levels and fewer psychosocial resources than in urban areas. Researchers have yet to test whether precise proximity to urban centers is associated with mental health for marginalized populations. We recruited 1733 people who reported living in 45 different countries. Participants entered their home locations and completed measures of anxiety, depression, social support, and resilience. Regression and thematic analyses were used to determine what role distance from legislative and urban centers may play in mental health when marginalized people were disaggregated. Greater distance from legislative center predicted higher anxiety and resilience. Greater distance from urban center also predicted more resilience. Thematic analyses yielded five categories (e.g., safety, connection) that further illustrated the impact of geographic location on health. Implications for community mental health are discussed including the need to better understand and further expand resilience in rural areas.

Population trends of the working age and over-the-working age in the Republic of Dagestan

BACKGROUND: To analyze the state and trends in the population, the study of age characteristics and other indicators is the basis of targeted social support programs for citizens of working age and older than working age in the Russian Federation.&#x0D; AIMS: To identify the demographic characteristics of the population in the Republic of Dagestan and determine current trends in the demographic development of the region.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included individuals of working age and older-than-working age in the Republic of Dagestan. Official data of the territorial body of the Federal State Statistics Service for the Republic of Dagestan were used. Analytical methods, expert assessment methods, and statistical and demographic analyses were employed, which ensured the validity of the research results. A continuous longitudinal study was conducted. When analyzing the trend in the dynamics of the adult population in the Republic of Dagestan (19992020), Excel automatically calculated the R2 value, which characterizes the accuracy of the approximation: the closer the R2 value to 1, the more reliably the trend line approximated the process under study. In the study, the R2 value was 0.902.&#x0D; RESULTS: Demographic indicators of the population reflect the state of the public health, being important criteria for assessing the working capacity of the population, quality of life, and level of socioeconomic development of the society. Periods of significant growth were identified. In 2004, the visibility indicator was 122.7%, whereas in 2003, the visibility indicator was 103.7%, i.e., the population increased by 18.3%, and the growth rate in 2004 was 18.3%. In 2011, the visibility indicator was 140.65, whereas in 2003, the visibility indicator was 129.1%, with a growth rate of 8.9%.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: The results of the analysis of the working-age and older-thanworking-age population in the Republic of Dagestan are of practical importance for ministries and departments involved in the development of measures for social support of citizens.

The Legal Status of a Pregnant Woman: An Intersectoral Aspect

The paper is devoted to the analysis of family and demographic policy in the context of determining the legal status of a pregnant woman under the Russian legislation, as well as the impact of a set of social support measures on the attractiveness of having many children in family planning. The author states that the absence of an established form of a woman’s pregnancy certificate is a huge disadvantage, since the issuance of a document is a legal fact with which the law connects the emergence, modification and termination of legal relations, the basis when a woman acquires a special social and legal status of a subject with a privileged position, reflected in various branches of Russian legislation. The paper analyzes judicial practice regarding the filing of claims by men for compensation for moral damage in connection with the termination of pregnancy by women without reaching a general agreement on the issue of family planning. In the transport sector, there is no uniform practice of providing transportation services to pregnant women by airlines. Regarding the legislation on sports, the author draws attention to the fact that the hormone released in the pregnant woman’s body is deemed doping. However, restrictions on access to competitions are discrimination, so it is not uncommon for a pregnant woman to receive an Olympic gold medal being heavily pregnant. The state of pregnancy is also of legal importance for criminal legislation, since a significant number of criminal law norms take into account the special status of a pregnant woman as a characteristic of the defendant’s personality, as well as as a circumstance that gives great public danger when the victim is the expectant mother. The granting of a special privileged status to a pregnant woman is also subject to consideration in housing legislation: the expectant mother should have the right to additional state support, including in terms of meeting housing needs. The author summarizes that for the Russian legislator, a pregnant woman is unconditionally a value whose rights and interests are protected as much as possible. The principle of state support for motherhood is reflected in the entire system of Russian legislation.

Changes in Tangible Social Support Over Time Among Older Adults Receiving Long-Term Services and Supports.

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in and predictors of perceived tangible social support over a 2-year period among older adults new to LTSS. Linear mixed effects models were used to model repeated measures of tangible social support as a function of LTSS type [NH, AL, HCBS], personal, clinical, and health-related quality of life variables. AL residents reported greater initial tangible social support, but NH and HCBS residents improved more over time. Predictors of increased tangible social support over time included greater positive affect, sense of aesthetics, education, satisfaction with family relationships, and total number of close friends and family. Decreased tangible support over time was associated with greater depressive symptoms. Findings indicate the positive influence of NH and HCBS services on perception of tangible social support, and the importance of addressing depressive symptoms and assisting with the maintenance of important relationships.

Free dental prosthetic treatment of patients with complicated medical history in Moscow region. Clinical case

Dental care is one of the socially important types of medical care and is highly demanded by the population. An important factor limiting the population’s possibilities for orthopedic rehabilitation is the financial situation of low-income and retired persons. The Government of the Moscow Region has approved more than 120 different measures of social support for residents of the Moscow Region. The social support program of making and repair dentures for Moscow region residents restores chewing efficiency and the budget of the Moscow region finances the performed treatment. The program includes main types of orthopedic constructions. Sometimes clinical cases may require more complex prosthetics due to concomitant pathology. For such cases some kinds of treatment so called ‘expensive’ exist in program. The article describes a clinical case of a patient with a stomatoneurological status who received orthopedic treatment using dental implants within the framework of free dental prosthetics.

Social isolation and subclinical vascular pathways to cerebrovascular disease

ABSTRACT Social isolation and lack of social support are risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CVD). This study explored the relationship between measures of social support and subclinical measures of CVD risk. 58 healthy adults ages 18 to 85 years participated in this study. The Berkman-Syme Social Network Inventory (SNI) was used to assess social isolation, with higher scores signifying less isolation. Social support was defined using the 12-Item Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL-12) with a higher score signifying higher social support. Subclinical CVD measures included carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), carotid beta-stiffness index, and middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility index. Path analysis models for both the SNI and ISEL appraisal domain predicting cfPWV and cerebrovascular pulsatility fit the data well. Path analyses showed significant direct paths from the SNI (β = −.363, t = −2.91) and ISEL appraisal domain (β = −.264, t = −2.05) to cfPWV. From cfPWV, both models revealed significant direct paths to carotid stiffness (β = .488, t = 4.18) to carotid pulse pressure (β = .311, t = 2.45) to MCA pulsatility (β = .527, t = 4.64). Social isolation and appraisal of social support are related to unfavorably higher aortic stiffness, with subsequent detrimental effects on cerebrovascular hemodynamic pulsatility.

ОЦЕНКА ВЛИЯНИЯ ОСНОВНЫХ КОМПЛЕКСОВ МЕР СОЦИАЛЬНОЙ ПОДДЕРЖКИ НА МАЛОИМУЩИЕ ДОМОХОЗЯЙСТВА

The relevance of the study is due to the fact that poverty and social inequality entail high risks of social tension. In this regard, it is necessary to implement a social policy aimed at reducing poverty and increasing the welfare of the population. To achieve this task, measures should have a high degree of effectiveness, which makes the issue of identifying the most promising measures from the point of view of reducing poverty very relevant. The purpose of the study is to determine such sets of social support measures based on sample observation data of population income and participation in social programs for 2022. In this regard, the object of the study was social support for low-income citizens. The subject of the paper is measures of state social support for citizens living in low-income households in the Russian Federation and their comparative effectiveness. In the course of the study, methods of analysis, calculation methods, comparison, and abstraction were used. Thus, the prevalence of state social support measures and their complexes among the poor population, their impact on the welfare of low-income households, and the reduction of their monetary income deficit were determined. In addition, households were grouped according to their income level relative to the poverty line. Based on the results of the analysis, conclusions were drawn about further possible ways of developing state social support measures. The research results and proposals presented in the article can be used in assessing the effectiveness of social support measures by government agencies and in developing new social support measures.