Friend Social Support Research Articles

Determination of Internet appropriation by older people through technological support services

While social support—friends, family, and colleagues—is one of the main sources of encouragement and digital literacy for older people, there is evidence that suggests that they may prefer formal sources of support. This study aims to verify the capacity of technological support services to promote literacy and Internet use by older people in multiple contexts. The participants ( N = 560) were retired adults (over 54) residing in Spain and habitual users of technological support services in four organizational contexts (nursing homes, community senior centers, university programs for seniors, and adult education programs). The results show the moderating role of organizational contexts on the capacity of formal technological supports to determine the use and appropriation of the Internet by older people. Finally, the findings are discussed in terms of their usefulness for initiatives that adapt to the needs of the users of these services.

Depression, anxiety, and the COVID-19 pandemic: Severity of symptoms and associated factors among university students after the end of the movement lockdown.

Background and aimsThis online cross-sectional study investigated the severity of depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms among university students and determined the association between various factors and the levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic after the movement control order (MCO) was lifted.MethodsA total of 316 participants were administered a self-report questionnaire that collected data on sociodemographic attributes, personal characteristics, COVID-19-related stressors, religious coping, and clinical characteristics. In addition, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were administered.ResultsRegarding depression, 15.5%, 11.7%, and 9.2% of the participants reported mild, moderate, and severe to extremely severe depression, respectively. For anxiety, 7.0%, 16.5%, and 13.2% of the respondents had mild, moderate, and severe to extremely severe anxiety, respectively. Moreover, 26.3% of participants had mild stress, 9.5% had moderate stress, and 6.6% had severe to extremely severe stress. The multiple linear regression model revealed that frustration because of loss of daily routine and study disruption and having preexisting medical, depressive, and anxiety disorders were associated with elevated depressive symptoms, while a greater degree of family and friends social support was associated with less depressive symptoms after adjusting for age, gender, and marital status. It was also found that frustration because of study disruption and having preexisting medical, depressive, and anxiety disorders were associated with elevated anxiety symptoms, while being enrolled in medicine-based courses and having a greater degree of family support were factors associated with less anxiety symptoms after adjusting for age, gender, and marital status.ConclusionThere is a need to conduct a longitudinal study in the future to confirm the causal relationship between the significant predictive factors and depression and anxiety identified in this study, and maintenance of a persistent flow of academic activities and social interaction may be of utmost importance to safeguard the mental wellbeing of university students.

Social support and strain and emotional distress among Latinos in the northeastern United States

BackgroundUS Latinos report high levels of emotional distress. Having positive familial and friend social support buffers emotional distress among US Latinos, but thus far no research has been done on social support and ataque de nervios in that population, or on social strain and emotional distress.MethodsThis paper assesses social support and strain across three relationship types (partner, family, and friends) with three measures of emotional distress (depression, anxiety, and ataque de nervios). The sample for partner, family, and friend support included 508 Latino adults 21 and older. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association of social support and strain with each outcome.ResultsAs all social support types increased, the odds of emotional distress symptoms decreased. Conversely, as each unit of partner and family strain increased, the odds of emotional distress symptoms increased. Increased friend strain was associated with greater odds of depressive and anxiety symptoms only.ConclusionSocial support in all three network types (partner, family, and friend) was associated with a decrease in the odds of emotional distress, assessed as symptoms of depression, anxiety, and ataque de nervios.

Resilience and Perceived Social support among Family Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia

Background: Psychological distress and burden among family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia can be mediated by resilience and perceived social support from family members, friends, and other significant caregivers. These are integral to bring positive changes in recovery and adaptation of family caregivers. Those reduce stress characteristics, also improve quality of life and quality of care provided for patients by family caregivers. Aim: This study aimed to determine the relationship between level of resilience and type of perceived social support among family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Design: A descriptive correlational design was used in this study. Setting: The study was conducted at Elmaamoura Hospital for Psychiatric Medicine in Alexandria, Egypt. Subjects: Subjects of this study consisted of 200 family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Tools: Three tools were used to collect necessary data namely a socio- demographic structured interview schedule, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Results: Among the studied caregivers 76% had low level of resilience and most of the caregivers 82.5% had moderate perceived social support. A statistically significant positive relationship was found between resilience and total score of perceived social support & its three subscales (family social support, important people social support and friends social support). On further analysis using stepwise multiple regression, the study revealed that family social support emerged as the first predictor of resilience. Conclusion: It can be concluded that most of the studied patients had low level of resilience and moderate perceived social support. Moreover, perceived social support is related to and can predict more resilience among family caregivers.

The Impact of Family and Friends Social Support on Latino/a First-Generation College Students’ Perceived Stress, Depression, and Social Isolation

This study highlights Latino/a first-generation students by investigating the associations of stress, depression, and social isolation with family and friend social support in their college experiences. Using random sampling, nine-hundred and seven ( N = 907) Latino/a first-generation students participated in this study. Results indicated family social support is negatively associated with stress and depression, social support from friends is negatively associated with social isolation, and family social support is a moderator of stress and depression.

Factors influencing interactions between adolescents and unknown people from the internet: Findings from five European countries

A considerable amount of adolescents’ interpersonal communication takes place online. Adolescents use the internet to interact with friends and family, but also with people who were previously unknown to them. This study focuses on two types of interactions with unknown people from the internet: online communication and offline face-to-face meetings. We used theoretical frameworks of adolescent developmental tasks and risk-taking behavior to identify the psychological and social factors that relate to the likelihood that adolescents will interact with unknown people. We further examined the differences between the two types of interactions. Using a sample 6647 adolescents, aged 11–16 (50.4% girls), from five European countries included in the EU Kids Online IV project, we examined the association of selected factors for both types of interactions.Our results support only some of our developmentally framed hypotheses – specifically, though age predicted both types of interactions, the quality of family relationships only predicted face-to-face meetings, and we found no association between the social support of friends and either type of interaction. In line with our risk-taking-framed hypotheses, sensation seeking, and emotional symptoms predicted both types of interactions; however, self-efficacy predicted only face-to-face meetings.Supporting our reasoning that online communications and face-to-face meeting are distinct behaviors, self-efficacy and the quality of family relationships predicted only face-to-face meetings, while disclosure in online communication only predicted online communication. Thus, future research and preventive efforts should be mindful of the differences and not conflate these behaviors. We also recommend preventive efforts for adolescents with elevated emotional symptoms who spend a lot of time online.

Abstract 09: The Health Freedom Path to Wellness Program: A Novel Educational and Behavioral Intervention to Promote Cardiovascular Health Equity

Background: African Americans (AAs) and adults living in urban communities continue to experience disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, obesity) despite decades of recognition of these disparities. Methods: The Health Freedom Path to Wellness Program is an innovative community-based educational and behavioral intervention to reduce disparities in CVD risk factors. The goal of this study was to test the effectiveness of the Circle of Friends (COF) educational and social support component of the Health Freedom intervention. The Health Freedom-COF incorporated six weekly one-hour long sessions led by lay health workers trained in CVD health education based on the AHA’s Simple 7 guidelines, blood pressure (BP) measurement, physical activity, and behavior change strategies, and culminated in a 5K celebration walk that gives participants an opportunity to learn about Maryland’s important role in the Underground Railroad. Results: Study participants included 353 adults in Maryland (93% AAs, mean age: 53 years; 85% female; and 35% with annual incomes <$50,000). At baseline, mean BP(SD) was 127.4 (17.6)/77.1 (10.8) mmHg; mean weight in pounds (SD) was 191.6 (45.2); 43.1% had diagnosed hypertension, and 15.0% had diabetes. Compared with their pre-intervention assessments, adults who completed the intervention experienced an average reduction of -5.2 mm Hg systolic blood pressure (95% CI: 4.1-6.3, p<0.001) and -3.3 mm Hg diastolic BP (95% CI: 2.5-4.1, p<0.001). At baseline, only 3.3% of participants reported a weekly consumption of 5+ fruit servings; 5.9% reported 5+ vegetable servings, and 12.8% reported 5+ days of physical activity. However, after completing the program, 22.4% of participants reported a weekly consumption of 5+ fruit servings; 28.6% reported 5+ vegetable servings, and 46.7% reported 5+ days of physical activity. Conclusions: The Health Freedom educational and behavioral intervention was associated with improvements in blood pressure, diet, and physical activity among socially at-risk adults.

Family and friend social support as mediators of adolescent sibling victimization and mental health, self-esteem, and delinquency.

Sibling victimization is associated with adjustment problems. Protective factors that reduce the detrimental effects of sibling victimization are unknown. We examined the mediating role of social support from family and friends in the relationship between sibling victimization and adolescents' mental health distress, self-esteem, and delinquency. A telephone survey (N = 850; 49% female) was conducted with a nationally representative sample of United States adolescents (Aged 10 to 17). Three mediation models were tested exploring (a) the unique effects of family and friend support, (b) the relative effects of each type of support, and (c) the effects of total support (family and friend support summed). The three models demonstrated partial mediation of adolescents' mental health and self-esteem. Family and total support, but not friend support, partially mediated the relationship between sibling victimization and delinquency. Findings showed that family and friend social support, in combination and sometimes uniquely, reduced the adverse effects sibling victimization associated with adolescents' mental health, self-esteem, and delinquency. Efforts aimed at promoting social support from family and friends as protective factors may reduce the risk of sibling victimization experiences for adolescent well-being difficulties. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Friend Support and the Parenting of Latina Adolescent Mothers: The Moderating Role of Maternal Age.

This study examined the role of maternal age in the relation between social support from friends and parenting adjustment in a sample of young Latina mothers and their 18-month-old children (N=168). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses tested friend social support types (emotional, socializing, child care) as differential predictors of maternal behavior (sensitivity, cognitive growth-fostering, detachment) displayed during mother-child play interactions. To consider maternal development, the moderating role of maternal age on these associations was tested. The relations between friend emotional and child care support and parenting were moderated by maternal age. Emotional support was related to the use of more growth-fostering parenting behaviors for older (≥ 19.5 yrs.), but not for younger Latina mothers. Child care support from friends was related to the display of more detachment and less cognitive growth-fostering behaviors among the younger (≤ 18.7 yrs.) mothers only. Immigrant mothers reported significantly less overall friend support and emotional support than mothers born in the mainland U.S. The findings emphasize the importance of assessing the types of friend support as separate measures in an ecological context that takes into account mothers' generational and developmental level.

A comparative study of socioeconomic status, perceived social support and psychological distress of mothers of children with and without disabilities

Background/AimsQuality of life has been defined as a measure of a person's physical wellbeing, psychological state, and social relationships. However, comparisons of psychological distress, socioeconomic status, and social support between mothers of children with and without disabilities have been limited, particularly in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study is to comparatively evaluate the socioeconomic status, perceived social support, and psychological distress of mothers of children with and without disabilities.MethodsThe Socio-Demographic Information Form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales were completed by 200 mothers of children with cerebral palsy or Down's syndrome and 100 mothers of children without disabilities.ResultsWelch's test indicated significant differences between the two groups on the total Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and all its subscales (<0.01) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Friends subscale (0.02).ConclusionsMothers of children with disabilities perceived high levels of overall social support, which might have reduced their psychological distress. It is recommended for rehabilitation centres to organise support groups for family members. It will also be beneficial for families of children with disabilities, if heath sector policy makers can review and develop effective socioeconomic policies to improve their standards of living.

Effects of Social Support and 12-Step Involvement on Recovery among People in Continuing Care for Cocaine Dependence

Background: Social networks that support recovery lead to enhanced treatment outcomes and sobriety regardless if this support stems from family, peer groups or 12-Step programs. Treatment process factors including readiness to change and commitment to abstinence also impact substance use. However, little is understood about the relationship between social support to treatment process factors during and after treatment for substance use disorders. Objectives: To identify the ways in which different social networks foster substance use change in a sample of individuals with cocaine dependence from intensive outpatient programs (IOPs). Methods: Data were drawn from two studies examining adults (N = 489) with cocaine dependence in IOPs for substance use disorders collected between 2004 and 2009. Assessment data were collected at 3- to 6-month intervals from baseline to 24-months and included the University of Rhode Island change assessment questionnaire, timeline followback, thoughts about abstinence, perceived social support – friend, and family versions and analyzed using GEE and mediational analyses. Results: Greater perceived friend social support was associated with greater readiness to change whereas greater perceived familial social support was associated with substance use goal; greater social support from both friends and family were associated with less substance use. Greater AA/NA participation was associated with substance use goal and readiness to change, and less substance use. Substance use goals partially mediated the impact of social support on later substance use. Conclusions/Importance: While peer and familial support are key to sustained recovery, their impact differentially affects treatment process variables. This information could be used to inform social support treatment interventions.

Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Sosyal Yeterliğin Algılanan Sosyal Destek Açısından İncelenmesi

Social self-efficacy is the belief in an individual's ability to initiate and maintain a social relationship. Determining the variables affecting social self-efficacy will provide a better understanding of this concept. The aim of this research is to examine the relations between perceived social support and social efficacy of the university students. The research group consisted of 354 university students 206 (58,2%) women and 148 (41,8%) men. In the study, ‘‘Social Efficacy and Social Outcome Expectations Scale’’ and ‘‘Multi-Dimensional Perceived Social Support Scale’’ were used. Independent sample t-test, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. According to the findings of the study, it was found that social efficacy and private human social support perceptions of the university students differed significantly according to gender, and the perception of family and friend social support did not differ significantly. In the study, a significant positive relationship was found between social efficacy and perceived social support. In addition, it was found that the perception of social support in the regression model accounted for about 32% of the total variance of social efficacy. As a result, as the social support perception of university students’ increases, the level of social efficacy increases.

P.049 Quality of life in children with absence epilepsy

Background: Childhood absence epilepsy is a common generalized epilepsy in pediatric patients. Although this was considered a “benign” syndrome, new data suggests there are associated neurocognitive effects. This is the first study comparing quality of life and social functioning in those with absence epilepsy to those with other types of epilepsy. Methods: This observational study recruited patients from six Canadian academic centers. 106 patients had absence seizures, and 219 had other seizures. Established measures of depression, anxiety, social skills, social support, participation, quality of life, and epilepsy severity were assessed. MANCOVA was used to evaluate differences in social function, quality of life, and epilepsy severity measures, while accounting for age and gender. Results: This yielded a statistically significant result (Wilk’s lambda <0.05), with partial eta squared of 0.163. Follow up of between subjects tests revealed lower health related quality of life interpersonal/ social subscale and close friend social support scores in those with absence epilepsy, while other measures were not significant. Conclusions: Children with absence epilepsy have similar social function, quality of life and epilepsy severity measures compared to those with other types of epilepsy. This indicates that any dysfunction in these domains is similar to those with other types of epilepsy.

Structure of social support for women with depressive disorders and macrosocial, mesosocial and microsocial maladaptation of different expression

The structure of social support in women with depression of different genesis and different severity of macrosocial, mesosocial and microsocial maladaptation was studied to determine further targets of differentiated psychosocial rehabilitation of patients of this group. 252 women with depressive disorders were examined: 94 women were with psychogenic disorders, 83 women were with endogenous disorders and 75 patients were with organic depression. 48 women did not show signs of psychosocial maladaptation, the other 204 showed manifestations of macrosocial, mesosocial and microsocial maladaptation of varying severity. The study was conducted using clinical-psychopathological and psychodiagnostic methods. The study revealed a decrease in the level of social support of family, social support of friends and social support of significant others as the degree of psychosocial maladaptation of any level (macrosocial, mesosocial or microsocial). The structure of the ratio of social support varied depending on the degree of macrosocial, mesosocial and microsocial psychosocial maladaptation: in general, in the absence of signs of psychosocial maladaptation, the highest level was social support of family, lower level was social support of significant others, and the lowest level was social support of friends; with mild psychosocial maladaptation, the highest level was social support of significant others, the lowest level was the social support of friends, and the lowest level was social support of family; with moderate and severe psychosocial maladaptation, the highest was the level of social support of friends, the lowest level was social support of significant others, and the lowest level was the social support of family. The identified patterns should be taken into account in the development of treatment and rehabilitation and preventive measures for depressive disorders in women. Keywords: depressive disorders, macrosocial maladaptation, mesosocial maladaptation, microsocial maladaptation, social support, women.

Qualidade de vida e fatores associados em mulheres sobreviventes ao câncer do colo do útero

O tratamento para o câncer do colo do útero pode levar à ocorrência de efeitos adversos tardios, como disfunções sexuais, intestinais ou urinárias; menopausa precoce e linfedema em membro inferior, os quais podem ter impacto negativo na qualidade de vida. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a qualidade de vida de sobreviventes ao câncer do colo do útero, seus fatores associados e comparar a qualidade de vida com um grupo controle de mulheres sem história de câncer. O grupo câncer foi composto por mulheres com término do tratamento há três meses (n= 37). O grupo controle, de base populacional, foi composto por mulheres sem história de câncer (n= 37). A qualidade de vida foi avaliada pelo WHOQOL-bref e a função sexual pelo Female Sexual Function Índex. Variáveis clínicas, terapêuticas e socioeconômicas foram avaliadas por questionário desenvolvido pelos autores. Em comparação ao controle, o grupo câncer apresentou maior percentual de mulheres que viviam sem companheiro, que consideravam o relacionamento com o companheiro como ruim/regular e que apresentavam disfunções urinárias, intestinais e sexuais. Além disso, o grupo câncer apresentou piores escores nos domínios “Físico” e “Relações Sociais” do WHOQOL-bref (p=0,03 e 0,01, respectivamente). Foram fatores independentemente associados ao domínio “Físico”: linfedema de membros inferiores e retenção urinária; e ao domínio “Relações Sociais”: apoio social de amigos e estenose/encurtamento vaginal. Os resultados sugerem impacto negativo da doença e de seu tratamento sobre a qualidade de vida das sobreviventes. Deve-se investigar a qualidade de vida e os fatores que a influenciam, visando um atendimento mais integral, direcionado às necessidades das pacientes, por meio de equipe multiprofissional.

Associação entre apoio social e nível de atividade física em adolescentes


 
 
 Analisar a associação do apoio social de pais e amigos com o nível de atividade física de adolescentes. Estudo transversal, com uma amostra de 952 adolescentes (15,72 ± 1,48 anos e 53,8% do sexo feminino). Foram avaliados diferentes tipos de apoio social para atividades físicas, provenientes dos pais e amigos. Um questionário foi utilizado para mensurar o nível de atividade física. O estado nutricional foi determinado com base no índice de massa corporal. As associações foram testadas por meio da regressão de Poisson, com variância robusta. O apoio social dos pais do tipo assistir a prática de atividades físicas nos adolescentes eutróficos (“às vezes” – RP = 1,60; IC95%: 1,16-2,19 e “sempre” – RP = 1,82; IC95%: 1,09-3,04) e com sobrepeso (“às vezes” – RP = 3,26; IC95%: 1,23-8,63) e comentar positivamente sobre a prática de atividades físicas nos adolescentes eutróficos (“às vezes” – RP = 1,49; IC95%: 1,08-2,07) e com sobrepeso (“às vezes” – RP = 3,11; IC95%: 1,12-8,59) associaram-se ao nível de atividade física. O apoio social dos amigos do tipo praticar atividades junto nos adolescentes com sobrepeso (“sempre” – RP = 2,57; IC95%: 1,02-6,44) e assistir a prática de atividades físicas nos adolescentes eutróficos (“sempre” – RP = 1,52; IC95%: 1,01-2,32) e com sobrepeso (“sempre” – RP = 3,68; IC95%: 1,19-11,35) associaram-se ao nível de atividade física. O apoio social fornecido pelos pais e amigos foi associado a maior prática de atividades físicas em adolescentes eutróficos e com sobrepeso.
 
 

The Association Between Social Anxiety and Perceived Frequency and Value of Classmate and Close Friend Social Support

The current study examined the relationship between social support from classmates and close friends and social anxiety in a sample of 377 adolescent students in grades 9–12. The results of the current study suggest that both the frequency and importance placed on support from classmates and close friends is associated with social anxiety. Interestingly, although the frequency of support was negatively associated with social anxiety, the importance or value placed on these behaviors was positively associated with symptoms of social anxiety. In addition, when considering support from classmates, the importance of support moderated the relationship between the frequency of social support and social anxiety, with students with low levels of support but high importance ratings demonstrating the highest levels of social anxiety. Implications of these findings and how they relate to intervention efforts for socially anxious students are discussed.

Demographic and Social-Cognitive Factors Associated with Weight Loss in Overweight, Pre-diabetic Participants of the PREVIEW Study

PurposeWeight loss has been demonstrated to be a successful strategy in diabetes prevention. Although weight loss is greatly influenced by dietary behaviors, social-cognitive factors play an important role in behavioral determination. This study aimed to identify demographic and social-cognitive factors (intention, self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, social support, and motivation with regard to dietary behavior and goal adjustment) associated with weight loss in overweight and obese participants from the PREVIEW study who had pre-diabetes.MethodProspective correlational data from 1973 adult participants were analyzed. The participants completed psychological questionnaires that assessed social-cognitive variables with regard to dietary behavior. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed to identify baseline demographic and social-cognitive factors associated with weight loss.ResultsOverall, being male, having a higher baseline BMI, having a higher income, perceiving fewer disadvantages of a healthy diet (outcome expectancies), experiencing less discouragement for healthy eating by family and friends (social support), and lower education were independently linked to greater weight loss. When evaluating females and males separately, education was no longer associated with weight loss.ConclusionThe results indicate that a supportive environment in which family members and friends avoid discouraging healthy eating, with the application of a strategy that uses specific behavior change techniques to emphasize the benefits of outcomes, i.e., the benefits of a healthy diet, may support weight loss efforts. Weight loss programs should therefore always address the social environment of persons who try to lose body weight because family members and friends can be important supporters in reaching a weight loss goal.

Does having a buddy help women with young children increase physical activity? Lessons learned from a pilot study

ABSTRACTA 12-week pilot controlled trial of a physical activity (PA) buddy program was designed for women with young children. Conducted in January 2015 through March 2016, 49 women (mean age = 36.4 ± 4.8 years) were randomized to one of two groups. Both conditions received an in-person session, weekly step goals based on their baseline number of steps, an accelerometer, and its mobile app. Only women assigned to the intervention group brought their buddies and exercised together at least once per week. Buddies also received an accelerometer and its mobile app. Among 47 women who completed the study, we found no significant difference between groups in changes in the mean number of daily steps for the prior week (p = 0.56). When women were categorized into three groups based on change in buddies’ PA, those with inactive buddies had significantly less change in number of steps than those with an active buddy and those in the control group (p < 0.018). Those with an active buddy also had higher friend social support scores for PA than the other two groups (p = 0.05). Thus, to improve PA, creating a social environment in which women associate with active individuals may be necessary.

Can social support buffer the association between depression and suicidal ideation in adolescent boys and girls?

AbstractThe purpose of the current study is to investigate social support (from parents, classmates, teachers, and close friends) as a protective factor in the association between depression and suicidal ideation. Data on students’ levels of social support, depression, and suicidal ideation were collected from 399 9th‐grade students using the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (CASSS), the Children's Depression Inventory, 2nd Edition Short Version (CDI 2), and the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire ‐ Junior Version (SIQ‐JR). Results of hierarchical linear regressions indicated parent, classmate, and close friend social support buffered the association between depression and suicidal ideation. Close friend social support as a buffer appeared to be more robust for girls. Implications concerning these findings are discussed.