Social Support Research Articles

Balancing duty and family: the effects of support systems on women in law enforcement

ABSTRACT Childcare resources and parental support remain a concern for many women police officers, who oftentimes become disparately impacted in the workplace due to their identity as a parent. Unpacking how resources and support might directly and indirectly impact commitment to the organization therefore becomes quite important, particularly in light of the retention crisis being faced by agencies across the country. This mixed-methods study employs: (1) ordinary least squares regression and structural equation modeling, in addition to (2) inductive content analysis in order to explore the relationship between organizational commitment, parental support, and social support. Results indicate that parental support and social support have significant positive direct and indirect effects on organizational commitment. Qualitative findings further contextualize that challenges related to scheduling and promotion, breastfeeding, and differential expectations between mothers and fathers are prominent. Potential avenues for improvement in these areas are explored.

Are breast cancer patients with low distress at diagnosis at risk of psychological symptoms later in their disease trajectory? Considerations for when to screen for distress.

To target psychological support to cancer patients most in need of support, screening for psychological distress has been advocated and, in some settings, also implemented. Still, no prior studies have examined the appropriate 'dosage' and whether screening for distress before cancer treatment may be sufficient or if further screenings during treatment are necessary. We examined the development in symptom trajectories for breast cancer patients with low distress before surgery and explored potential risk factors for developing burdensome symptoms at a later point in time. In total, 299 patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer who scored < 7 on the distress thermometer were included between August 2017 and October 2019 at the Department of Breast Surgery, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. Patients were followed through electronic questionnaires at baseline before surgery and after 6, 12, and 18 months. We used latent class mixed models to identify sub-groups of patients with similar development in distress, anxiety, depression, breast cancer-specific health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, and fear of recurrence over time. Logistic and multinomial regression analyses were applied to examine clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with specific symptom trajectories. We did not identify any sub-groups of women with low distress at diagnosis who developed disabling psychological symptoms up to 18 months after diagnosis. However, we did identify a sub-group of 52% of the women who experienced persistent mild anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder [GAD]-7 score 5-9). Adjusted for baseline treatment modalities and sociodemographic characteristics, women having low social support (odds ratio [OR]: 2.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-7.87) or living with a partner (OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 1.38-7.34) were more likely to experience persistent mild anxiety. The results show that the majority of women with low distress at breast cancer diagnosis do not experience an increase in psychological symptoms over time. Screening for distress at cancer diagnosis may be an essential step to identify most breast cancer patients in need of professional support for psychological symptoms.

The Role of Community Organisation, Religion, Spirituality and Cultural Beliefs on Diabetes Social Support and Self-Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: Integrative Literature Review.

To examine the evidence for the role of community organisations, religion, spirituality, cultural beliefs, and social support in diabetes self-management, we undertook an integrative literature review utilising MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, and grey literature databases. The selected articles were appraised for quality, and the extracted data were analysed thematically. The search yielded 1586 articles, and after eliminating duplicates, 1434 titles and abstracts were screened, followed by a full-text review of 103 articles. Ultimately, 47 articles met the inclusion criteria for the review, utilising various study designs, including qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, and nonrandomised clinical trials. These findings indicate that spirituality and religiositycan positively affectdiabetes self-managementby providing motivation, coping skills, social support, and guidance for healthy behaviours. A strong social support system enhances diabetes self-management and glycaemic control for individuals with diabetes. However, some aspects of religion and culture, such as beliefs about medications, may also pose challenges or barriers to diabetes self-management. Adherence to medication, food choices, physical activity, and the use of complementary oralternative medicine can be influenced by sociocultural factors. Additionally, cultural beliefs and social norms influence understanding diabetes aetiology, management, and symptom reactions. The findings highlight that it is crucial to understand the cultural, religious, orspiritual influences that can either assist or impede self-management habits in individuals with diabetes and could inform interventions that support personalised and effective care.

Predicting depression improvement: a factorial survey of MSW students’ prognostic judgments

ABSTRACT Depression is a commonly diagnosed and treated condition in mental health practice. However, treatment outcomes vary. Although prognosis influences treatment selection, little is known about the factors influencing prognostic judgments of depression. The factorial survey method was used to disentangle the influences of client, practice, and respondent characteristics on prognostic judgments. A total of 426 master’s in social work (MSW) students judged 3 vignette scenarios yielding 1,266 judgments. Prognosis was lowest for severe life stressors, highest for strong/moderate social support, and was influenced by respondent beliefs, underscoring the influence of clinical and non-clinical factors on prognosis and treatment of depression.

Exposure to Family Violence and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms Among University Students in Taiwan: Do Social Support and Gender Matter?

Exposure to Family Violence and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms Among University Students in Taiwan: Do Social Support and Gender Matter?

Evidence-based recommendations for partners and friends of adult survivors of child sexual abuse.

Adult disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA) is often addressed to partners and friends. The risk of negative reactions is high due to the stigma associated with CSA, however receiving social support is a protective factor. Therefore, educating the environment on how to face disclosure becomes crucial. Most education recommendations are focused on young victims, and the few addressed to adults are not evidence-based. Our aim was to develop an evidence-based guide of action for adult CSA survivors' relatives. First, we conducted a survey with individuals who had never received a disclosure to identify their concers if they recived a testimony of sexual abuse in their environment. The participants here were individuals who had never received a disclosure (N=9, 66.7% female; mean age: 39, SD: 17.63). Next, we elaborated a semi-structured interview based on these concerns to request recommendations from survivors on how to approach them during disclosure plus including questions about how their own disclosure flowed and which emotional needs they had. Finally, we conducted in-depth interviews with CSA survivors, collected their answers and performed a content-based analysis. The participants here were 12 CSA survivors (91.67%, female; mean age: 37.58, SD: 12.42). In general, disclosure appears to benefit from respecting five principles: (1) respecting survivors' timelines, including not reporting to the police until they feel ready for it (if adults, in case of children immediate report must be done instead); (2) letting them have control over the recipients of their victimization; (3) not associating their victimization with their identity; (4) asking them about their emotional experience rather than about the criminal act and (5) empathizing with each individual's need for forgiveness in three dimensions: themselves (self-blaming), the environment (lack of protection) and the abuser (aggression).

Exploring the mediating role of social support and self-efficacy in the relationship between work family conflict and mental health outcomes in China

Exploring the mediating role of social support and self-efficacy in the relationship between work family conflict and mental health outcomes in China

Needs Assessment to Guide the Development of a Pediatric Survivorship Program to Promote the Physical and Psychological Well-being of Children After Cancer Treatment.

Studies have provided insights into the major challenges and needs of young children who survive cancer. Many such challenges are related to a lack of support during the patient's transition back to normal life. Survivorship programs are designed to help survivors cope with potential late effects of treatment and to provide psychosocial support. However, there is not yet a survivorship program in Hong Kong that provides young survivors with continuous care. To explore the challenges and needs faced by pediatric cancer survivors during their transition from patient to survivor and to guide the development of the survivorship program. A qualitative descriptive design utilizing purposive sampling was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 pediatric cancer survivors aged between 9 and 18 years, along with their parents/caregivers, as well as 5 pediatric cancer oncology nurses and 3 pediatric oncologists. The interviews yielded 4 overarching themes: (1) challenges in school reintegration, (2) concerns relating to physical and psychological well-being, (3) lack of social support and adaptation difficulties, and (4) needs for supportive care services. The findings provide insights into the needs of pediatric cancer survivors, their parents, and other key stakeholders. These insights suggest that a pediatric cancer survivorship program should be established in Hong Kong as an essential component of the continuum of cancer care. Survivor clinic care should be enhanced to provide continuous support for children who have completed medical treatment and their caregivers, incorporating the perspectives of all stakeholders.

Transaction of parental cognition, stress and depressive symptoms, and infant regulatory challenges.

Parental cognitions, stress, depression, and infant regulatory challenges might reinforce each other in the early parent-infant relationship. A transactional model was used as a framework to investigate these relationships. Two hundred and twenty pregnant women and their partners were recruited during pregnancy and followed 7 months postnatally in the NorBaby study in Norway. To investigate risk and protective factors for parental stress and depressive symptoms at 2, 5, and 7 months postnatally, the following variables were entered antenatally: repetitive negative thinking, implicit associations to infants, parity, and social support. Postnatally, observed infant regulatory challenges at 2 months, parent's perception of infant temperament at 5 months, and signs of infant social withdrawal at 7 months. The model yielded that repetitive negative thinking predicted parenting stress and depressive symptoms, while infant regulatory challenges did not. Repetitive negative thinking is also related to infant temperament. For mothers, parity was beneficial against stress, depressive symptoms, and infant regulatory challenges. Implicit associations to infants were not related to parenting stress or depressive symptoms postnatally. Parenting stress and depressive symptoms were not related to infant social withdrawal at 7 months. In sum, how parents perceive their infant's temperament is associated with their own tendency to engage in repetitive negative thinking, and not by their infant's observed regulatory behavior. Accordingly, parental cognition and well-being should be considered when families struggle to adapt in the perinatal period.

The contribution of self-compassion and social support to women's mental health during pregnancy: A comparison between international and national crisis periods.

The present study aimed to examine the contribution of self-compassion and perceived social support from family, partner, and friends, along with pregnancy-related variables, and concerns about the fetus and childbirth, to pregnant women's mental health, comparing two different crises. A sample of 220 women was recruited during the COVID-19 pandemic, and another sample of 224 women was recruited during the Israel-Hamas war. Participants were enrolled through a convenience sample and completed a set of self-report questionnaires. Women's mental health, self-compassion, and perceived support from family and partner were significantly higher during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the war. Furthermore, women's mental health had positive and significant associations with self-compassion and perceived social support from all sources. Moreover, the association between self-compassion and mental health was moderated by the event. The findings suggest that the pregnancy period should be examined under various unique stressful events to better understand the appropriate coping resources that can ameliorate women's stress due to a major stressful event alongside the challenges inherent in pregnancy itself. They also suggest that self-compassion is a context-dependent variable and more dynamic than previously understood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Religious Coping in Parents of Children with Down Syndrome: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Having a child with Down syndrome (DS) is stressful for families. Social, physical, economic and emotional difficulties are the most challenging stressors for parents of children with DS. Therefore, parents who have children with DS have used various types of coping strategies. This systematic review investigates religious coping in parents of children with DS to synthesize what is known of the literature regarding religious coping among parents of children with DS. Pubmed and Scopus databases were searched with no restriction on language and the year of publication. Additionally, manual searches of the retrieved articles' references were performed. Forty-four original studies published between 2000 and 2023 were included in the review. No study on the subject was found in either Pubmed or Scopus before 2000. Most studies were conducted in USA 7 (15.9%), Egypt 7 (15.9%), and Türkiye 6 (13.6%). In the studies, the total number of participants was 4266, range between 8 and 530 (median 55.5). The ethnic origins of the participants were very diverse and the studies included participants from many cultures around the world. Based on the studies, we identified seven themes that represented the main stressors encountered by parents/caregivers of children with DS: "information deficits," "child caregiving burdens," "familial difficulties," "financial difficulties," "challenges related to social and professional support," "society's misconceptions," and "worries about the future." The most commonly (n = 12, [27.2%]) used coping scale was coping orientation to problems experienced. Religious coping was the coping strategy most frequently used by participants in 36 (81.8%) studies. Religion, spirituality, and belief in Allah (God)were of central importance for most participants in most of the studies. Most parents reported that belief in Allah (God)encouraged them to accept the diagnosis of DS and feel better and become stronger; provided improvements in the lives of families and the necessary resources to face their difficulties; played a fundamental role in adaptation with the conditions of their children with DS; brought them peace of mind and a sense of hope; and motivated them to keep on moving forward. In conclusion, religion plays an important role in the lives of most parents of children with DS. Religious coping has been used by parents of children with DS in many cultures around the world, regardless of religion, race, or ethnicity. Belief in Allah (God),belief in fate and belief in the afterlife,provided physical, mental and psychosocial relief for most parents of children with DS.

Comprehensive assessment of caregiver burden and strain in early-stage Parkinson's disease: An exploratory study.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor and cognitive functions, reducing the quality of life (QoL) for both patients and caregivers. This study explored correlations between clinical and psychological factors in early-stage PD patients and their caregivers, focusing on disease burden and caregiver stress. Nineteen PD patients and their caregivers were assessed. For patients, we evaluated disease severity (Hoehn and Yahr), cognitive functions (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA), anxiety levels (Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, HRS-A), and quality of life (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire, PDQ-39). For caregiver, we assessed caregiver burden (Caregiver Burden Inventory, CBI), functional social support (Family Strain Questionnaire, FSQ), and anxiety level (HRS-A). Spearman's correlation analyzed relationships between patient factors and caregiver burden. Cognitive impairment (MoCA) negatively correlated with patient QoL (PDQ-Cogn; r = -0.48, p = 0.04). Caregiver anxiety (HRS-A) was positively correlated with physical (r = 0.65, p = 0.003) and emotional stress (r = 0.57, p = 0.01), and higher family stress (FSQ). Our study highlights the complex relationships between clinical and psychological factors in PD patients and their caregivers. This supports the need for integrated approaches that address the clinical management of PD and the caregivers' psychological well-being.

Clinical validation of the nursing diagnosis inadequate social support network in breastfeeding mothers: A cross-sectional study.

To clinically validate the nursing diagnosis (ND) inadequate social support network in breastfeeding mothers. This cross-sectional quantitative study employed clinical indicator accuracy analysis and hierarchical modeling for the etiological factors of the ND inadequate social support network. The study included 285 breastfeeding mothers registered in primary healthcare units. The most prevalent clinical indicators within the sample were deficit in instrumental support from health services, imposition of appropriate behaviors, weak social bonds, and negative social interactions. The most frequent etiological factors were deficit in strong bonds, fragility of institutional network organization, unwillingness to provide support, refusal to provide support, and deficit in healthcare professionals. The ND inadequate social support network was clinically validated within the population of breastfeeding mothers, resulting in six clinical indicators with high sensitivity and specificity for identifying the diagnosis. Additionally, the statistical analysis of the etiological factors identified seven antecedents to the emergence of the diagnosis. Based on these findings, nurses can better assist breastfeeding mothers with the aim of preventing an inadequate social support network. By identifying this phenomenon, it becomes possible to plan care and implement nursing interventions to address this issue effectively.

Impact of gratitude on posttraumatic growth in patients with coronary stent implantation: the mediating role of resilience and perceived social support

Impact of gratitude on posttraumatic growth in patients with coronary stent implantation: the mediating role of resilience and perceived social support

Diverse Care Needs Assessment for Older Adults in China: A Latent Profile Analysis Study.

Grasping the nuanced needs of older adults is paramount for the efficacious provision of day-care services. Our study sought to identify the demand patterns for day-care services in China and to explore the underlying factors. This study aims to offer useful evidence that can refine nursing care strategies and guide policy development within day-care settings. We implemented a comprehensive electronic survey comprising 46 questions targeting older adults across nine day-care centers in Nanjing, China. Employing latent profile analysis (LPA), we systematically examined and categorized the demand characteristics for day-care services. This analysis was conducted using Mplus version 8.3 and SPSS version 26.0 software, ensuring a rigorous and precise methodological approach. Our study involved a comprehensive survey of 1016 older adults. The participants were categorized into three groups based on their demand for day-care services: high demand (n = 127), medium demand (n = 197), and low demand (n = 692). The low-demand group exhibited higher levels of social support and better activities of daily living (ADL) scores compared to their counterparts. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that older adults characterized by male gender, advanced age, higher levels of education, receipt of support from a child, presence of chronic diseases, and lower social support and ADL scores exhibited a statistically significant inclination towards moderate to high demand for day-care services (p <0.05). The demand for day-care services for older adults in China is intricately influenced by a complex array of interrelated factors. Tailoring service offerings to meet the varied physical and emotional needs of older adults is essential, with a particular focus on health and wellness management in day-care centers.

Benefit Finding and Growth Among Family Caregivers of Individuals With Mental Illness: A Scoping Review.

Benefit finding is a concept that represents finding positive changes or benefits through difficult experiences. To map the currently available studies on benefit finding and growth among family caregivers of individuals with mental illness, we conducted a scoping review based on methodological frameworks. A systematic search for studies published in English was conducted using MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, CINAHL, and PTSDpubs from inception to August 2023. After screening, 21 articles were included in the review. Of these, 11 studies were cross-sectional studies, 7 were qualitative studies, 2 were mixed-methods studies, and a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Family caregivers experienced various positive psychological changes, such as becoming compassionate/tolerant and resilient, stronger family bonds, change in perspective on life and hope, acquisition of knowledge and coping strategies, and leveraging their experiences and appreciation by others, following various struggles and negative changes. Some indicators of benefit finding and growth, such as positive personal traits, positive reappraisal, good relationships with patients, and social support, were also revealed. The quality assessment demonstrated an acceptable level of quality in most studies, with a few outliers. Future longitudinal studies would reveal the mechanism of benefit finding and growth among family caregivers of individuals with mental illness.

Interprofessional Collaboration as a Best Practice Across the Care Continuum.

Interprofessional teams are increasingly being recognized as a best practice for enhancing cooperation among multiple disciplines in delivering person-centered care and improving outcomes. Unlike previous models, such as the multidisciplinary team in which each profession or discipline remained largely siloed, with interprofessional teams collaboration occurs across disciplines. For case managers, the interprofessional team concept aligns with the collaborative, professionally diverse nature of the field of practice. As the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) states: "The practice of case management is professional and collaborative, occurring in a variety of settings where medical care, mental health care, and social supports are delivered. Services are facilitated by diverse disciplines in conjunction with the care recipient and their support system" (2024b, CCMC Definition and Philosophy, p.1). Although interprofessional teams may be more familiar in settings such as acute care, this dynamic can be found, formally and informally, across health and human services. Professional case managers who actively participate in interprofessional teams will likely find more opportunities to optimize collaboration and collective decision-making that bring out the best of every profession and discipline. Interprofessional teams can be found in multiple care settings including acute care, subacute care, community-based care, palliative/end-of-life and other settings that benefit from a person-centered approach that supports successful transitions of care and improved outcomes. Professional case managers are valued members of interprofessional teams, in that they are typically collaborative, promote open communication, and encourage cooperation among various disciplines. Interprofessional teams, however, may require a shift in thinking away from the former multidisciplinary model, in which case managers often acted as the hub connecting the spokes of each discipline. Within interprofessional teams, the individual is at the center, and every discipline will share leadership based on the individual's needs or the treatment protocol or other intervention needed in the moment. In this way, interprofessional teams become a model for empowering and allowing each discipline to step up and address specific aspects of treatment or other interventions.

Social Networks, Health Support, and Dietary Intake in Mothers Receiving Home Visiting Services.

Home visiting programs (HVPs) provide services to pregnant individuals and parents of young children to improve families' health and well-being. However, little is known about these families' social contexts. This study explores the social networks and dietary intake of mothers enrolled in a HVP, focusing on health support and health undermining. Cross-sectional data from 76 mothers enrolled in a HVP in Los Angeles County were collected by interview, using validated measures. Almost all mothers (95.7%) had one or more health supporters, while 55.1% had one or more health underminers. Some key findings related to health support were that mothers with higher income had more health supporters in their network (b = 1.36, p = 0.03), and network members were more likely to be health supporters if they were a romantic partner (OR = 3.41, p < 0.001), a resource-based connection (OR = 3.46, p < 0.01), or if they lived in the same neighborhood as the mother (OR = 1.68, p < 0.05). Further, having a health supporter who lived in the same neighborhood was associated with consuming more (1 + daily servings) vegetables (OR = 3.0, p < 0.05) and no sugar-sweetened beverages (OR = 0.29, p < 0.05). There were fewer findings related to health undermining: network members more likely to be underminers were romantic partners (OR = 8.93, p < .0001), and those perceived as having overweight or obesity (OR = 3.98, p < 0.001), but health undermining did not predict dietary intake. Overall, a broad set of network features were linked with health support, and given that some types of support were linked with better diet, network-based diet interventions leveraging health support may be effective in this priority population.

Metabolomic Changes in Major Depressive Disorder Adolescent Females with or without Suicide Attempts.

The incidence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is high among adolescent females, and MDD is often accompanied by suicide attempts (SAs), which have a serious negative impact on health. However, changes in lipids, thyroid hormone, and brain metabolism among female adolescents with MDD and the relationships between these three markers and MDD with SA have yet to be elucidated. This study enrolled 71 MDD patients with SA (MDD+SA), 66 MDD patients without SA (MDD-SA), and 47 healthy controls (HCs). We analysed the lipid and thyroid hormone levels and magnetic resonance spectroscopy results of the subjects. Low levels of social support, high levels of life stress, and high levels of suicidal ideation (SI) were risk factors for SA. In MDD patients, 1) thyroid stimulating hormone was positively correlated with triglyceride (TG) and N-acetyl aspartic acid (NAA)/creatinine in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein and the choline/creatinine in the thalamus; 2) free thyroxine was negatively correlated with the choline/creatinine in the thalamus; 3) total cholesterol, TG, low-density lipoprotein, and choline/NAA in the PFC were positively correlated with the severity of SI and suicide risk; and 4) NAA/creatinine in the thalamus was negatively correlated with the severity of SI and suicide risk. In female adolescents with MDD, there are significant synergistic changes in lipids, thyroid hormones, and brain metabolism-related factors, and the changes in these indicators may be related to the pathological mechanism of SA.

Longitudinal associations between informal caring, social network, and psychological distress among adolescents and young adults: modelling within-person effects

BackgroundInformal caring is associated with mental health deterioration among young people and impacts their help-seeking ability. Social network can provide social support and mitigate the impact of informal care. However, young carers may avoid identification and withdraw from social networks. Evidence regarding the reciprocal associations between caring, social network, and mental health is scarce. We aimed to investigate the directionality and specificity of the associations among the three factors in young people.MethodsThis study used three consecutive assessment data (2021–2023; T0–T2) from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey. We included 5539 young persons aged ≤ 25 years and 25,445 adults aged 26–59 years. Social network was measured using the Lubben Social Network Scale. Psychological distress was evaluated using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Caring status was retrospectively reported at T2. We employed a random intercept cross-lagged model to detect within-person prospective associations between informal caring, social network, and psychological distress.ResultsYoung persons showed significant directional relationships from increased social network and psychological distress at T0 to increased likelihood of caring at T1 (standardised coefficient: 0.131 and 0.176, respectively; 95% confidence interval, 0.015–0.247 and 0.071–0.282, respectively). Adults aged 26–59 years showed a reverse relationship from caring to increased psychological distress both from T0 to T1 (0.061, 0.009–0.112) and from T1 to T2 (0.042, 0.000–0.084).ConclusionsIncreased psychological distress and social network preceded the onset of informal caring among young persons. Incorporating psychological distress assessment may benefit the early identification of and support for young carers. The long-term interplay between social networking and informal caring needs further clarification.