Social Support and the Religious Dimensions of Close Ties

Despite the influence of social support on physical and mental health, few studies have examined why some close ties are more supportive than others. Though religion provides a rich context for social interaction and a meaningful social identity, it has received little attention in the social support literature. A growing literature on religion and health offers insight into how religion affects social support processes. Using dyadic network data derived from the nationally representative 2006 Portraits of American Life Study, I examine how the religious dimensions of close, nonhousehold ties relate to provision of social support. Results from logistic regression analyses indicate that (controlling for a range of other social tie characteristics) same‐faith ties are significantly more likely to be sources of help “in times of need,” while religious discussion is a strong predictor of receiving both help and advice. The effect of religious homophily is strongest for evangelical Protestants and African‐American Protestants. My findings underscore the need for social support researchers to consider the role of religion in shaping support processes in close relationships.     

Quality of life and mental health among women with ovarian cancer: examining the role of emotional and instrumental social support seeking

The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of emotional and instrumental social support seeking in the quality of life (QOL) and mental health of women with ovarian cancer. Participants were recruited through the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry, and one hundred women took part in a mail questionnaire that collected information on their demographics, medical status, social support seeking, QOL and mental health including anxiety, depression and stress. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the influence of emotional and instrumental social support seeking on QOL and mental health. After controlling for remission status, greater emotional social support seeking was predictive of higher overall QOL, social/family QOL, functional QOL and lower depression scores. Instrumental social support seeking was not significant in the models. The results illustrate that social support seeking as a coping mechanism is an important consideration in the QOL and mental health of women with ovarian cancer. Future studies should examine the psychological and behavioral mediators of the relationship to further understand the QOL and mental health of women with ovarian cancer.     

Social desirability,adequacy of social support and mental health

The extent to which the association between satisfaction with social support and mental health was due to social desirability was determined. Whether this association differed between those high and low on social desirability was also examined. Measures consisted of the Crowne – Marlowe Scale, the Adequacy of Social Integration and Attachment Indices, the General Health Questionnaire, the Zung Self‐Rating Depression Scale and four scales from the Delusions‐Symptoms‐States Inventory. The sample comprised 132 women and 93 men randomly drawn from a larger sample of 756 selected at random from the Canberra electoral roll. Although social desirability was positively associated with satisfaction with social support and mental health, the association between mental health and satisfaction with social support was little reduced when social desirability was controlled, indicating that social desirability did not account for the association between social support and mental health. The association between satisfaction with social support and mental health did not differ between those high and low in social desirability, suggesting that this association was not moderated by social desirability. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Partner Violence, Social Support, and Distress Among Inner-City African American Women

This study examined the role of social support in the partner violence–psychological distress relation in a sample of African American women seeking medical care at a large, urban hospital (n = 138). Results from bivariate correlational analyses revealed that partner violence was related to lower perceived social support and greater psychological distress, and lower social support was related to more distress. Furthermore, findings based on path analysis indicated that low levels of social support helped account for battered women's increased distress. Findings point to the need for service providers to screen for partner violence in nontraditional sites, such as hospital emergency rooms, and to address the role of social support resources in preventive interventions with African American battered women.     

Correlates of Readiness to Change in Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a social problem associated with significant morbidity; however, victims do not always utilize treatment and resources. One's readiness to change might be one variable impacting his or her pursuit of treatment and other resources. This study investigated correlates of readiness to change, and readiness to change's impact on treatment utilization. Data were collected from 223 women residing in battered women's shelters. Correlational analyses find that generally victims with more psychopathology and distress, as well as more social support, were more ready to change. Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, overall distress, and social support were the strongest predictors of readiness to change. Finally, victims higher in readiness to change were more likely to seek mental health treatment and other IPV-related services.     

感恩与大学生创伤后成长的关系：社会支持和希望的中介作用

采用病毒暴露风险问卷、感恩问卷、领悟社会支持量表、希望量表和创伤后成长问卷,以2168名大学生为被试,考察新冠病毒肺炎疫情期间居家学习大学生的感恩对创伤后成长(PTG)的预测作用及社会支持和希望的中介作用。结果发现,有41.61%的大学生出现明显的PTG;在控制了性别、年级、居住地和病毒暴露风险后,感恩可以直接正向预测PTG,也可以分别通过社会支持和希望的中介正向预测PTG,还可以通过社会支持和希望的链式中介正向预测PTG。本研究提示心理干预工作者,要关注疫情期间大学生的心理成长,可以通过提高大学生的感恩、社会支持和希望从而促进PTG。     

Do We Know Where We Stand? Neighborhood Relative Income,Subjective Social Status,and Health

Bridging research on relative income and subjective social status (SSS), this study examines how neighborhood relative income is related to ones' SSS, and in turn, physical and mental health. Using a survey sample of 1807 U.S. adults, we find that neighborhood median income significantly moderates the relationship between household income and self‐reported physical and mental health. Low‐income individuals living in high‐income neighborhoods (i.e., relative disadvantage) report better physical and mental health than low‐income individuals living in low‐income neighborhoods. In addition, high‐income individuals living in low‐income neighborhoods (i.e., relative advantage) report higher SSS (relative to neighbors), whereas low‐income individuals living in high‐income neighborhoods (i.e., relative disadvantage) also report higher SSS. We draw from social comparison theory to interpret these results positing that downward comparisons may serve an evaluative function while upward comparisons may result in affiliation with better‐off others. Finally, we demonstrate that SSS explains the relationship between neighborhood relative income and health outcomes, providing empirical support for the underlying influence of perceived social position.     

孕期生活事件与妊娠压力：心理健康的中介效应和丈夫支持的调节作用

用问卷调查法对上海市403名单胎、孕周在24～33周的孕妇进行研究,探讨怀孕过程中孕妇经历的生活事件和妊娠压力的关系,以及孕妇的心理健康状况和丈夫支持在其中所起的作用。结果表明：（1）怀孕计划的主效应显著,孕龄的主效应不显著,怀孕计划和孕龄的交互作用显著;妊娠压力在怀孕计划上的主效应显著,意外怀孕的孕妇的妊娠压力显著高于计划怀孕的孕妇的妊娠压力;（2）怀孕过程中孕妇经历的生活事件与妊娠压力呈显著正相关,与孕妇的心理健康呈显著负相关;（3）孕妇的心理健康状况在生活事件和妊娠压力的关系中起部分中介效应,即生活事件部分通过孕妇的心理健康状况影响孕妇的妊娠压力;而丈夫支持则对孕妇心理健康的中介效应起调节作用,当丈夫支持高时,心理健康状况越好的孕妇,其妊娠压力越低,心理健康状况对孕妇妊娠压力预测显著;当丈夫支持低时,心理健康状况对妊娠压力的预测不显著。     

Gender homophily in preferences for physicians

Gender homophily in physician preference (desire for a physician of the same sex) and more general homophily preferences (race, religion, and gender) were investigated among a population of college undergraduate and health professional students for a variety of health problems. Findings indicated that gender homophily preference was stronger for men than for women. However, the preferences may not reflect antifemale physician prejudice, particularly self-prejudice of women clients. Male preferred their doctors to be men significantly more than did females, regardless of the health problem. More serious health problems requiring greater physician skill (cancer, heart disease) did not produce significantly greater preference for males than problems requiring a lesser amount of skill. It appeared that health problems requiring a greater degree of physical intimacy (e.g., complete physical exam, gynecological or prostate problem) or psychological intimacy (e.g., emotional problem) produced greater homophily preference. Whether or not the student had had experience in clinical settings as a preprofessional or professional student did not have an impact on homophily preferences. Implications for the future delivery of health care, especially increased numbers of women in medicine, are discussed.This article is a revised version of a paper presented at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, Boston, August 1979. The authors appreciate the suggestions of John Doby and Linda Molm, and the assistance in obtaining subjects of Jean Li Rogers and Kirk Elifson.     

Brief Report: Symptoms of PTSD,Coping Strategies,and Social Adjustment among Survivors of Early Life Interpersonal Trauma

Dysphoria symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been associated with impairments in social functioning; however, this relationship has been unexamined among interpersonal trauma populations. A sample of 303 women with a history of early life interpersonal trauma completed measures of PTSD severity, coping, and social functioning. Results revealed that dysphoria symptoms had a strong and unique association with total social adjustment and social functioning (i.e., social activities). Active coping significantly mediated the relationship between dysphoria symptoms and total social adjustment, and active coping and seeking emotional support significantly mediated the relationship between dysphoria symptoms and social functioning. Findings elucidate variants of coping that might compound impaired social functioning and highlight the value of integrating coping skills into PTSD interventions.     

Relationships between perceived close social support and health practices within community samples of American women and men

In this cross-sectional study the author examined the impact of perceived social support from close interpersonal relationships (e.g., significant other, family, and friends) on health practices in community samples of women and men. Research volunteers (N=373; 189 women, 184 men) from the Northern Wisconsin region completed self-report measures of social support, depression, hassles, health practices (i.e., diet, exercise, relations with health professionals, substance abuse, sleep), and demographic information. After controlling statistically for sociodemographic factors, the authors found that depressive symptoms, hassles, and perceived social support contributed significantly to the prediction of healthy diet and adherence to routine medical attention for women, but not for men. The author also observed for relations between perceived close support and (a) exercise and (b) substance abuse among women. Findings suggest that high levels of social support from one's close social network contribute independently to specific health practices for women, but not for men, and point to the importance of both between- and within-gender assessment of health behavior.     

Main and interactive effects of social support in predicting mental health symptoms in men and women following military stressor exposure

Abstract

Evidence across a multitude of contexts indicates that social support is associated with reduced risk for mental health symptoms. More information is needed on the effectiveness of different sources of support, as well as sex differences in support. Associations between social support from two sources – the military unit and friends and family – and mental health symptoms were examined in a study of 1571 Marine recruits assessed at the beginning and end of a highly stressful 13-week training program. Military social support buffered the stressor exposure–posttraumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS) relationship, whereas the relationship between stressor exposure and PTSS was highest when civilian social support was high. Further inspection of the interactions revealed that military support was most important at high levels of stressor exposure. Sex differences in the relationship between social support and symptoms were found, such that support from military peers was associated with lower levels of PTSS for men, whereas civilian support was associated with lower PTSS for women. While civilian social support was associated with lower levels of depression symptom severity in both women and men, the relationship was stronger for women. Reviewed implications focus on the importance of considering the recipient, source, and context of social support.     

Ethnicity,Social Support,and Depression Among Elderly Chilean People

Recent evidence regarding the relationship between social support and depression in elderly people shows the important role of ethnicity. This research describes the characteristics of social support in a sample of elderly people aged 60 and above living in northern Chile (n = 493), and analyzes the differences in the relationship between social support and depression between an indigenous group (Aymara population, n = 147) and a nonindigenous group (white, Caucasian, mestizo, n = 346). Various dimensions of social support were considered: structural elements, functional social support according to source, and community participation. The results show the existence of significant differences in the characteristics and dimensions of social support depending on sex, ethnicity, and marital status. Further, the central role of the family group is observed for both Aymara and nonindigenous elderly people. The hierarchical regression models obtained result in notable differences in the role of the structural, functional, and community elements of support in explaining depression for the ethnic groups considered.     

A Little Goes a Long Way: The Impact of Distal Social Support on Community Integration and Recovery of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities

Although an extensive body of literature highlights the important role of social support for individuals with psychiatric disabilities, definitions of support tend to be restricted—focusing on intimate relationships such as friend and family networks and ignoring the role of casual relationships existing naturally in the community. This mixed-methods study of 300 consumers of mental health services in the Southeastern US aims to better understand the impact of community supports, termed distal supports, on community integration and recovery from mental illness. Qualitative content analysis, tests of group mean differences, and hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed the following: (1) participants primarily reported receiving tangible support (e.g., free medication/discounted goods) from distal supports rather than emotional support (e.g., displays of warmth/affection) or informational support (e.g., provision of advice); (2) women and older participants reported more distal supports than men or younger participants; and (3) distal supports played a unique role in predicting community integration and recovery even after accounting for the influence of traditional support networks. Results highlight the importance of considering diverse types of social support in naturally occurring settings when designing treatment plans and interventions aimed at encouraging community participation and adaptive functioning for individuals with psychiatric disabilities.     

How does higher in‐group social value lead to positive mental health? An integrated model of in‐group identification and support

Previous research has indicated that the effects of in‐group social value on mental health are mediated by the extent to which individuals identify with their in‐group. Other research has shown that in‐group identification leads to positive mental health because it provides in‐group members with a psychological basis for social support. We examine how the individual's perception of the social value of the in‐group leads to positive mental health, integrating the effects of identification with and support from the in‐group. As predicted, the relationship between higher social value and decreased mental health (e.g. depression, perceived stressful events) is mediated by higher in‐group identification, which in turn leads the members to expect support from the in‐group but not the out‐group. An integrated model of the effects of perceived in‐group social value, identification, and support on mental health is proposed, and the implications are discussed.     

城市老年人社会支持利用度研究

老年人社会支持利用度反映其应对负性生活事件的自我保护意识的一方面．诸多因素制约着老年人运用社会所提供的客观支持的自觉程度。本文采用《社会支持利用度问卷》对上海市社区老人进行了调查研究,结果表明：（1）文化程度、年龄、健康状况是影响城市老年人社会支持利用度的重要因素．文化程度较高、相对低年龄以及健康状况较好的老人其自觉运用社会支持的程度较高。（2）主动寻求社会支持反映一种积极应对方式。     

Contextualizing Acculturation: Gender, Family, and Community Reception Influences on Asian Immigrant Mental Health

This article investigates differences in the mental health among male and female immigrants from an ecological perspective, testing the influences of both individual acculturation domains and social contexts. Data from the first nationally representative psychiatric survey of immigrant Asians in the US is used (N = 1,583). These data demonstrate the importance of understanding acculturation domains (e.g., individual differences in English proficiency, ethnic identity, and time in the US), within the social contexts of family, community, and neighborhood. Results demonstrate that among immigrant Asian women, the association between family conflict and mental health problems is stronger for those with higher ethnic identity; among immigrant Asian men, community reception (e.g., everyday discrimination) was more highly associated with increases in mental health symptoms among those with poor English fluency. Findings suggest that both individual domains of acculturation and social context measures contribute to immigrant mental health, and that it is important to consider these relationships within the context of gender.     

The role of postdeployment social factors in linking deployment experiences and current posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology among male and female veterans

Background and Objectives: The postdeployment social context is likely highly salient in explaining mental health symptoms following deployment. The aim of this study was to examine the role of postdeployment social factors (social support and social reintegration difficulty) in linking deployment-related experiences (warfare exposure, sexual harassment, concerns about relationship disruptions, and deployment social support) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology in male and female veterans.

Design: A survey was administered to 998 potential participants (after accounting for undeliverable mail) who had returned from deployment to Afghanistan or Iraq. Completed surveys were received from 469 veterans, yielding a response rate of 47%.

Methods: Hypotheses were examined using structural equation modeling.

Results: For male and female veterans, deployment factors predicted later PTSD symptoms through postdeployment social support and social reintegration, with lower support and higher social reintegration difficulty both associated with higher PTSD symptomatology. While the final models for women and men indicated similar risk mechanisms, some differences in pathways were observed. Sexual harassment presented more of a risk for women, whereas lower social support was a greater risk factor for men.

Conclusions: Postdeployment social factors appear to represent potentially important targets for interventions aiming to reduce the potential impact of stressful deployment experiences.     

Differential Influence of Social Support in Emerging Adulthood Across Sources of Support and Profiles of Interpersonal and Non-Interpersonal Potentially Traumatic Experiences

Social support is protective against the negative effects of trauma, yet how these effects vary across sources of support and patterns of trauma exposure has not been examined. High co-occurrence exists among different types of trauma across domains and ages, yielding patterns of trauma exposure that may affect social support. This study identified profiles of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) experienced by 252 college students and examined the relationships between social support and mental health across these profiles. Five profiles emerged: “Non-Interpersonal Trauma Exposure,” “Adult Intimate Partner Violence,” “Poly-trauma Exposure,” “Low Trauma Exposure,” and “Childhood Family Violence.” The link between social support and adjustment differed across profiles. Family support was valuable for promoting resilience across patterns of PTEs. Friend and romantic partner support were related to lower mental health problems. Support from family and friends is particularly valuable in the context of adult intimate partner violence and childhood family violence.     

Gender typing,importance of multiple roles,and mental health consequences for women

The present study examined the interactive influence of gender role typing and multiple role involvement with regard to specific mental health concerns among middle-class Caucasian women. As with previous research, depression and anxiety proved to be a function of gender role typing (feminine-typed and undifferentiated women displayed greater depression and anxiety relative to masculine-typed or androgynous women) with no differences attributable to multiple role involvement. For substance abuse, however, an interaction effect was obtained. Gender-typed (both masculine and feminine) women striving to excel across multiple roles engaged in greater substance abuse than women not gender typed (androgynous and undifferentiated); indeed, the latter displayed low risk comparable to women not similarly striving at multiple roles regardless of gender typing. A similar interaction previously has been reported with regard to disordered eating. These findings suggest that the lack of gender typing for women may enable them to cope more effectively with the conflicting demands of multiple roles and thereby reduce certain health risk behaviors (e.g., disordered eating and substance abuse), but that other mental health concerns (e.g., depression and anxiety) may not be similarly affected.