scholarly journals Building and Connecting: Family Strategies for Developing Social Support Networks for Adults With Down Syndrome

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E. Roll ◽  
Barbara J. Bowers
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Support Networks ◽  
The Social ◽  
Professional Resources

Being embedded in social networks is crucial for well-being and health. While this is particularly the case for people with Down syndrome (DS), our knowledge of how their support networks are developed is limited. This article investigates the role of family members in developing and maintaining the social support networks of their adult children with DS. Based on 29 interviews with family members, a grounded theory study was conducted. The Family Building and Connecting (BAC) framework was developed, which distinguishes a “building” and a “connecting” approach. The building approach includes strategies that rely on family members and close friends for building a support network for the person with DS. The connecting approach includes strategies that connect the person with DS to external and often professional resources and services. Distinguishing these approaches is important for future research and for strengthening the support networks of people with DS and their families.

scholarly journals The social support networks of elderly people in Slovenia during the Covid-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjan Cugmas ◽  
Anuška Ferligoj ◽  
Tina Kogovšek ◽  
Zenel Batagelj
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Social Support Networks ◽  
Ego Networks ◽  
The Social

Population ageing requires society to adjust by ensuring additional types of services and assistance for elderly people. These may be provided by either organized services and sources of informal social support. The latter is especially important since a lack of social support is associated with a lower level of psychological and physical well-being. During the Covid-19 pandemic, social support for the elderly has proven to be even more crucial, also due to physical distancing. Therefore, this study aims to identify and describe the various types of personal social support networks of the elderly population during the coronavirus pandemic. To this end, a survey of Slovenians older than 64 years was conducted from April 25 to May 4, 2020 on a probability Web-panel-based sample (n = 605). The ego-networks were clustered by a hierarchical clustering approach for symbolic data. Clustering was performed for different types of social support (socializing, instrumental support, emotional support) and different characteristics of the social support networks (i.e., type of relationship, number of contacts, geographical distance). The results show that most of the elderly population in Slovenia have a satisfactory social support network, while the share of those without any (accessible) source of social support is significant. The results are particularly valuable for sustainable care policy planning, crisis intervention planning as well as any future waves of the coronavirus.

scholarly journals The social support networks of elderly people in Slovenia during the Covid-19 pandemic

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0247993
Author(s):  
Marjan Cugmas ◽  
Anuška Ferligoj ◽  
Tina Kogovšek ◽  
Zenel Batagelj
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Social Support Networks ◽  
Ego Networks ◽  
The Social

Population ageing requires society to adjust by ensuring additional types of services and assistance for elderly people. These may be provided by either organized services and sources of informal social support. The latter are especially important since a lack of social support is associated with a lower level of psychological and physical well-being. During the Covid-19 pandemic, social support for the elderly has proven to be even more crucial, also due to physical distancing. Therefore, this study aims to identify and describe the various types of personal social support networks available to the elderly population during the pandemic. To this end, a survey of Slovenians older than 64 years was conducted from April 25 to May 4, 2020 on a probability web-panel-based sample (n = 605). The ego networks were clustered by a hierarchical clustering approach for symbolic data. Clustering was performed for different types of social support (socializing, instrumental support, emotional support) and different characteristics of the social support networks (i.e., type of relationship, number of contacts, geographical distance). The results show that most of the elderly population in Slovenia has a satisfactory social support network, while the share of those without any (accessible) source of social support is significant. The results are particularly valuable for sustainable care policy planning, crisis intervention planning as well as any future waves of the coronavirus.

scholarly journals Convoys of social support in Mexico

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather R. Fuller-Iglesias ◽  
Toni Antonucci
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Frequent Contact ◽  
Gender And Education ◽  
The Social

The Convoy Model suggests that at different stages of the lifespan the makeup of the social support network varies in step with developmental and contextual needs. Cultural norms may shape the makeup of social convoys as well as denote socio-demographic differences in social support. This study examines the social convoys of adults in Mexico. Specifically, it examines whether social network structure varies by age, gender, and education level, thus addressing the paucity of research on interpersonal relations in Mexico. A sample of 1,202 adults (18–99 years of age) was drawn from the Study of Social Relations and Well-being in Mexico. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated older adults had larger, more geographically proximate networks with a greater proportion of kin but less frequent contact. Women had larger, less geographically proximate networks with less frequent contact. Less educated individuals had smaller, more geographically proximate networks with more frequent contact and a greater proportion of kin. Age moderated gender and education effects indicated that younger women have more diverse networks and less educated older adults have weaker social ties. This study highlights socio-demographic variation in social convoys within the Mexican context, and suggests implications for fostering intergenerational relationships, policy, and interventions. Future research on Mexican convoys should further explore sources of support, and specifically address implications for well-being.

The impact of social support networks on mental and physical health in the transition to older adulthood

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine L. Fiori ◽  
Justin Jager
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Social Support Networks ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Social support is a multidimensional construct that consists of the type of support, the direction of support, the sources or targets of support, and whether support is actual or potential. We used latent class analysis to uncover network types based on these dimensions and to examine the association between network types and well-being among 6,824 adults ( M age = 54 at T1) in the two most recent waves (1992–1993 and 2003–2005) of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. We found six classes of social support networks. Class membership at T1 significantly predicted changes in depressive symptomatology and self-rated health over time. Our findings are discussed in light of the utility of a pattern-centered approach for uncovering heterogeneity in the social networks of adults.

scholarly journals Egocentric network characteristics of persons with Type 1 Diabetes and their relationships to perceived social support and well-being

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian Cheyne ◽  
Michael A. Smith ◽  
Thomas Victor Pollet
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Contact Network ◽  
Social Support Networks

Objectives: The size of one's support network is positively related to health and well-being. It is therefore important to understand this association in people with Type 1 diabetes, which is hitherto unknown. Moreover, the type of support (emotional, instrumental, informational) offered likely varies by gender of both the person seeking support and offering support. We thus examine the relationship between the composition of (perceived) social support networks and well-being in a sample of 121 persons with Type 1 diabetes. Design: An egocentric social network survey, combined with survey measures. Main outcome(s): The size and composition of support networks and well-being. Measures: Participants indicated the type of support individuals in their contact network offered and their gender, alongside measures of perceived social support and well-being. They indicated which individuals offered which types of support (emotional, instrumental, informational). Results: Perceived support was associated with the actual size of the emotional support network. Further, the size of the emotional support network was associated with well-being. Using multilevel models we examined assortment by gender in social support networks. Compared to women, men were more inclined to list the opposite gender as support, especially for emotional and informational support. Conclusion: Mapping out an individual’s multidimensional support network paints a more complete picture of support than single item measures of support. Our findings suggest further avenues for studying the support networks of people with Type 1 diabetes.

Implementation of a computer-assisted face-to-face intervention for mapping the social support networks of patients with severe mental illness in routine clinical practice: Analysis of the appropriateness and acceptability of the intervention

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110589
Author(s):  
Pablo Nicaise ◽  
Hélène Garin ◽  
Pierre Smith ◽  
Sébastien d’Oreye de Lantremange ◽  
Laurent Leleux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Social Support Networks ◽  
Personal Recovery ◽  
The Social

Background: Social support is a key dimension of personal recovery for patients with severe mental disorders. Although clinicians and health professionals should monitor the social support resources of patients in order to provide effective treatment, no specific tool or intervention exist for that purpose. Egonet is a computer-assisted intervention for health and social services that enables the mapping, assessment and fostering of patients’ social support networks. Aims: This paper describes the intervention and evaluates the appropriateness and acceptability of its implementation in a clinical setting. Method: We described the computer-assisted intervention. We used a questionnaire to assess how appropriate and acceptable clinicians found a preliminary version to be. We also collected patients’ level of satisfaction with their social support networks before and after the intervention and carried out qualitative interviews. Results: Egonet is made up of four components: (1) a computer-assisted interview for mapping social networks, (2) a remote data server, (3) a data-mining module and (4) a customisable reporting tool. Egonet was implemented for 232 patients by 91 clinicians from five services. The intervention was perceived by clinicians as appropriate and useful for clinical practice, although it was noted that considerable effort was required to obtain its benefits. Patients were slightly more satisfied with their social support after the intervention than before, and expressed the opinion that more attention should be paid to the social support network. Conclusions: EGONET is appropriate and acceptable for use in work related to the social support networks of patients with psychiatric disorders.

Examining Social Support Networks among Athletes: Description and Relationship to Stress

1989 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence B. Rosenfeld ◽  
Jack M. Richman ◽  
Charles J. Hardy
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Social Support Networks ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Social Support Network ◽  
The Social

The purpose of this investigation was twofold: first, to describe the social support networks of athletes with respect to who provides what types of support and in what perceived amounts, and second, to compare the support networks of low- and high-stressed athletes. Results indicated that social support is provided by coaches, teammates, friends, and parents, and that each makes a unique contribution to the athletes’ social support network. Coaches and teammates were identified as providing types of support requiring expertise in sports, and friends and parents were identified as providing complementary types of support not requiring such expertise. Few differences were found between the social support networks of low- and high-stressed athletes.

Perceived social support and burden of care of male and female caregivers of patient with schizophrenia

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Narendra Kumar Singh ◽  
Nishant Goyal
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Burden Of Care ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Difference

Background: Schizophrenia is associated with a high familial, social and economic burden. Schizophrenia is also associated with a high level of disability which may create impediments on the social and economic areas of the patients as well as on their respective family networks. Families with schizophrenia may encounter problems such as impairment of health and well being of other family members, restriction of social activities of the family members and shrinking of support from the social network. Aims: The present study examined the difference in perceived social support and burden of care between the male and female caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study examining the difference in perceived social support and burden of care between the male and female caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. The sample consisted of 60 (30 male and 30 female) caregivers of the patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia as per ICD-10-DCR. Results and Conclusion: This study revealed that male caregivers perceived more social support and less burden of care as compared to female caregivers. Key words: Gender, social support, burden

The social support networks of internet users

2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Hlebec ◽  
Katja Lozar Manfreda ◽  
Vasja Vehovar
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Social Support Networks ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
The Social
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