Providing Social Support May Be More Beneficial Than Receiving It

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 320-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Brown ◽  
Randolph M. Nesse ◽  
Amiram D. Vinokur ◽  
Dylan M. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Marital Relationship ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Older Couples

This study examines the relative contributions of giving versus receiving support to longevity in a sample of older married adults. Baseline indicators of giving and receiving support were used to predict mortality status over a 5-year period in the Changing Lives of Older Couples sample. Results from logistic regression analyses indicated that mortality was significantly reduced for individuals who reported providing instrumental support to friends, relatives, and neighbors, and individuals who reported providing emotional support to their spouse. Receiving support had no effect on mortality once giving support was taken into consideration. This pattern of findings was obtained after controlling for demographic, personality, health, mental health, and marital-relationship variables. These results have implications for understanding how social contact influences health and longevity.

scholarly journals Heterogeneous Influences of Social Support on Physical and Mental Health: Evidence from China

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Yang ◽  
Yao Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Heterogeneous Effects ◽  
Individual Self

Employing a national representative survey (the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2016, CLDS2016) data (N = 14246), this paper examines the heterogeneous influences of social support on individual physical and mental health in China. Social support is characterized by four dimensions: emotional support, tangible or instrumental support, interaction or exchange support, and community support. Physical health is measured by self-rated health and body mass index (BMI), while mental health is measured by depression, hopelessness, failure, fear, loneliness, and meaninglessness. The results indicate that different dimensions of social support have heterogeneous effects on individual physical and mental health. Specifically, the correlation between emotional support and individual physical health is not significant, but emotional support is significantly related to some mental health variables. Tangible or instrumental support is significantly related to individual self-rated physical health but not to BMI or mental health. Interaction or exchange support is significantly correlated with individual self-rated health and some mental health variables. In general, there are significant correlations between community support, and individual physical and mental health. The results also suggest that the influences of social support on physical and mental health of individuals at different ages (<60 years and ≥60 years) are heterogeneous. The results of this study provide direction for the dimension selection of social support to promote individual health.

scholarly journals How Does Reciprocal Exchange of Social Support Alleviate Individuals’ Depression in an Earthquake-Damaged Community?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1585
Author(s):  
Arpana Pandit ◽  
Yoshinori Nakagawa
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
Conceptual Base ◽  
Ample Evidence ◽  
Reciprocal Exchange ◽  
2015 Gorkha Earthquake ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Relationship

There is ample evidence to indicate the direct effects of receiving social support on mental health during and after a disaster. However, the importance of reciprocal exchanges of social support (i.e., balanced receipt and provision of social support) in maintaining the mental health status of individuals is not widely recognized. Using equity theory and reciprocity norms as a conceptual base, we distinguished two types of social support, namely, emotional support and instrumental support, and examined the effects of reciprocal exchanges of types of support on depression in survivors of an earthquake-damaged community. To collect data, in 2019, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 295 survivors of the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake in a rural village in Nepal. Our results showed that the relationship between reciprocal exchange of support and depression varied depending on the types of support. The amount of emotional support received by the individual alleviated his/her depression only when accompanied by giving emotional support. By contrast, the net amount of instrumental support given by the individual increased his/her depression. The practical implications of the study are discussed.

Deprivation and Social Support in Mental Health of Welfare Recipients in Japan

2016 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 372-386
Author(s):  
Takahiro Yoshizumi ◽  
Seiko Mizutani ◽  
Soshiro Yamada
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
General Population ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
General Health ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Deprivation Index ◽  
Welfare Recipients ◽  
Health Questionnaire ◽  
Social Support Scale

Although many Western studies examining the mental health of welfare recipients exist, Japanese welfare recipients have been overlooked. This study investigated mental health among welfare recipients in Japan and relations with a sense of deprivation of life's necessities and social support. Participants ( n = 305) completed the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), Proportional Deprivation Index, and a social support scale. Participants' GHQ-12 scores exceeded those of the general public, as 54.9% scored above the cut-off, suggesting poorer mental health among welfare recipients than the general population. Proportional Deprivation Index and emotional support from relatives and friends were associated with GHQ-12 scores. These results suggest that while chronic deprivation is associated with poorer mental health among welfare recipients, receiving emotional support may help cope with distress and maintain mental health.

Checklist Identification of Elementary Schoolboys for Clinical Referral or Evaluation of Eligibility for Special Education

1993 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 218-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard E. Mattison ◽  
James C. Lynch ◽  
Helen Kales ◽  
Alan D. Gamble
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
General Population ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Practical Procedure ◽  
Emotional Dysfunction ◽  
Mental Health Referral ◽  
General Population Group ◽  
Clinical Referral

Achenbach and Edelbrock teacher and parent checklists were used to develop a practical procedure to assist educators in determining if a boy with behavioral/emotional dysfunction in elementary school requires mental health referral or SED evaluation. SED, psychiatric outpatient, and general population Caucasian boys ages 6 to 11 years were compared. Appropriately, scores for the SED and the outpatient groups were pathological and significantly greater than scores for the general population group on both checklists, while SED scores were significantly higher than outpatient scores on the teacher checklist. Logistic regression analyses showed the Total Problem scales of both checklists to be the most efficient and economical scales for classification. Finally, probability tables were constructed to distinguish SED and outpatient boys from general population boys, and SED boys from outpatient boys.

Primary Purpose for Committing a Crime and Past-30 Day Opioid Misuse: A Statewide Sample of Justice-Involved Children

2021 ◽  
pp. 002204262110376
Author(s):  
Dylan J. Shaw ◽  
Micah E. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
General Population ◽  
Drug Courts ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Opioid Misuse ◽  
Care Model ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Material Gain ◽  
Cascade Of Care

The prevalence of opioid misuse (OM) among justice-involved children (JIC) is significantly higher than children in the general population, yet little research has examined the predictors of OM among JIC. Goldstein’s “economic compulsive model” hypothesizes that JIC who commit crimes for material gain will have a higher likelihood of meeting past-30 day (P30D) OM criteria. The data in this study were cross-sectional and represented 79,960 Florida JIC. To test the hypothesis, logistic regression analyses were utilized. Over 2000 JIC (2.67%) met P30D OM criteria and JIC who committed crimes for material gain were 2.55 times as likely to meet P30D OM criteria. Findings indicate that children may be incarcerated due to an inability to afford their addiction, contributing to the criminalization of mental health. JIC could benefit from the increased utilization of drug courts and the implementation of a cascade of care model.

Social Support in Daily Life at Reentry

2020 ◽  
pp. 197-218
Author(s):  
Naomi F. Sugie ◽  
Dallas Augustine
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Release From Prison

Throughout the reentry literature, there is widespread recognition about the central role of social support—including emotional and instrumental support—to prevent recidivism and promote integration. Although emotional support is often considered a relatively more important construct than instrumental support in scholarship on stress and coping, reentry research generally focuses on the provision of material and informational resources. This chapter analyzes novel data—daily open-ended survey questions via smartphones about a person’s most important positive and negative points of the day—to understand the types of social support that people most value in their daily lives in the immediate months after release from prison. Using this approach, the chapter describes the importance of spending time with others, the central role of children, and changes in support over time. The chapter concludes by recommending that reentry scholars pay greater attention to the construct of emotional support in studies of recidivism and integration.

scholarly journals Loneliness and COVID-19 preventive behaviours among Japanese adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Stickley ◽  
Tetsuya Matsubayashi ◽  
Michiko Ueda
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Japanese Adults ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background There is some evidence that loneliness may be linked to poorer health behaviours. Despite this, there has been little research to date on the relationship between loneliness and COVID-19 preventive behaviours. We studied these associations in a sample of the Japanese population. Methods Data were analysed from an online survey of 2000 adults undertaken in April and May 2020. Loneliness was assessed with the Three-Item Loneliness Scale. Information was also collected on 13 COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Regression analyses were used to examine associations. Results In linear regression models adjusted for demographic and mental health variables, both dichotomous and continuous loneliness measures were negatively associated with engaging in COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Logistic regression analyses further showed that loneliness was also associated with reduced odds for a variety of individual preventive behaviours including wearing a mask (odds ratio [OR]: 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62–0.95), disinfecting hands (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.67–0.94) and social distancing when outdoors (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.61–0.92). Conclusions Loneliness is associated with lower engagement in COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Interventions to prevent or ameliorate loneliness during the ongoing pandemic may be important in combating the spread of the coronavirus.

THE ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AND ACTIVITIES WITH HEALTH IN SOUTH KOREA: DIFFERENCES IN AGE AND GENDER

2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 409-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
SANG-SIK MOON ◽  
SANG-MI PARK ◽  
SUNG-IL CHO
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
And Gender

SummaryThis study investigated gender difference in the effects of social support, including emotional support and instrumental support (such as help when sick and financial assistance), and social activities on perceived health of middle-aged and older adults in South Korea. Data were acquired from 3771 men and 4954 women aged 40 years and older who participated in the 2005 cross-sectional survey of the Seoul Citizens Health and Social Indicators Survey. Using multiple regression analysis, both age- and gender-specific differences related to social support and engagement in social activities and self-rated poor health were examined. Poor emotional support from close friends, relatives or someone with whom one could talk about worries was strongly associated with poor self-rated health in men, with the greatest effect in older men. Lack of engagement in social activities was associated with self-rated poor health in older adults, especially in older men. Poor instrumental support was associated with perceived poor health only in middle-aged women. As a health improvement strategy for men aged 65 years and older especially, emotional support should be considered. Measures should be considered for encouraging social activities by older adults, particularly older men.

Social Support and Happiness in Immigrant Women in Spain

2012 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 977-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Manuel Dominguez-Fuentes ◽  
María Isabel Hombrados-Mendieta
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Indigenous Population ◽  
Immigrant Women ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
Informational Support ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Family ◽  
Sources Of Support

The association between perceived social support and happiness was investigated in women who are members of various associations in Malaga (Spain) that work with immigrant women. Based on the Social Convoy model, the association between sources of support, frequency of support, satisfaction with support, and happiness reported by women were examined. The main social support predictor of happiness was satisfaction with the support received. Thus, the best predictors of happiness were emotional support from the family and instrumental support from the indigenous population and associations. The best predictor of frequency of support was the frequency of informational support received from social services. These results may prove useful for developing lines of action or interventions centred on the social network and the functions that social support can fulfil among immigrant women.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document