Prediction of health behaviours of users of online weight control communities: the effects of social support, and social connectedness

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Ling ◽  
Paul Branscum ◽  
Xiaoqian Wang
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Health Behaviours

scholarly journals Social Support and Connectedness as Predictors of Weight Control Behaviors in Online Communications

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Branscum ◽  
Chen Ling ◽  
Xiaoqian Wang
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Obese Adults ◽  
Weight Control Behaviors

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of social support and social connectedness for five weight control behaviors among overweight/obese adults (N=118) participating in an online weightloss community. The five weight control behaviors investigated were physical activity, screen time, and the consumption of sugar-free drinks, sugar-sweetened drinks, and fruits and vegetables. Step-wise multiple regression was used to predict each weight control behavior with constructs of social support and social connectedness. Social support was highly predictive of all behaviors under investigation. Furthermore, interactions within the community (active or passive users) were significant for two behaviors (screen time and fruit and vegetable consumption), and number of minutes engaged in the community per week was significant for fruit and vegetable consumption only. These results suggest that promoting social support is likely the most important feature for online weight loss communities.

Session 11: Friends and Family

2016 ◽  
pp. 87-92
Author(s):  
Evan M. Forman ◽  
Meghan L. Butryn
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Social Cues ◽  
Difficult Conversations

This chapter (Session 11) discusses methods of gaining social support for weight control goals by asking for support from others, being specific and assertive about one’s needs, and being willing to have potentially difficult conversations. Strategies for overcoming social cues that are problematic to weight control are also presented, such as avoiding or changing the problematic cue or responding in a healthier way.

scholarly journals Health behaviours and psychosocial working conditions as predictors of disability pension due to different diagnoses: a population-based study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annina Ropponen ◽  
Jurgita Narusyte ◽  
Karri Silventoinen ◽  
Pia Svedberg
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Disability Pension ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Job Control ◽  
Psychosocial Working Conditions ◽  
Unit Increase

Abstract Background To investigate whether the clustering of different health behaviours (i.e. physical activity, tobacco use and alcohol consumption) influences the associations between psychosocial working conditions and disability pension due to different diagnoses. Methods A population-based sample of 24,987 Swedish twins born before 1958 were followed from national registers for disability pension until 2013. Baseline survey data in 1998–2003 were used to assess health behaviours and psychosocial Job Exposure Matrix for job control, job demands and social support. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results During follow-up, 1252 disability pensions due to musculoskeletal disorders (5%), 601 due to mental diagnoses (2%) and 1162 due to other diagnoses (5%) occurred. In the models controlling for covariates, each one-unit increase in job demands was associated with higher (HR 1.16, 95%CI 1.01–1.33) and in job control with lower (HR 0.87, 95%CI 0.80–0.94) risk of disability pension due to musculoskeletal disorders among those with unhealthy behaviours. Among those with healthy behaviours, one-unit increase of social support was associated with a higher risk of disability pension due to mental and due to other diagnoses (HRs 1.29–1.30, 95%CI 1.04–1.63). Conclusions Job control and job demands were associated with the risk of disability pension due to musculoskeletal disorders only among those with unhealthy behaviours. Social support was a risk factor for disability pension due to mental or other diagnoses among those with healthy behaviours. Workplaces and occupational health care should acknowledge these simultaneous circumstances in order to prevent disability pension.

Socioeconomic status, social support, oral health beliefs, psychosocial factors, health behaviours and health-related quality of life in adolescents

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andressa Coelho Gomes ◽  
Maria Augusta Bessa Rebelo ◽  
Adriana Correa de Queiroz ◽  
Ana Paula Correa de Queiroz Herkrath ◽  
Fernando José Herkrath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Oral Health Beliefs

scholarly journals Breast cancer survivors’ preferences for social support features in technology-supported physical activity interventions: findings from a mixed methods evaluation

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 423-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian R Lloyd ◽  
Sara A Hoffman ◽  
Whitney A Welch ◽  
Danielle Blanch-Hartigan ◽  
Kara L Gavin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Message Board ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
Social Features

Abstract Incorporating peer and professional social support features into remotely delivered, technology-supported physical activity interventions may increase their effectiveness. However, very little is known about survivors’ preferences for potential social features. This study explored breast cancer survivors’ preferences for both traditional (e.g., coaching calls and peer support) and innovative (i.e., message boards and competitions) social support features within remotely delivered, technology-supported physical activity interventions. Survivors [N = 96; Mage = 55.8 (SD = 10.2)] self-reported demographic and disease characteristics and physical activity. A subset (n = 28) completed semistructured phone interviews. Transcribed interviews were evaluated using a thematic content analysis approach and consensus review. Following interviews, the full sample self-reported preferences for social features for remotely delivered physical activity interventions via online questionnaires. Questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Four themes emerged from interview data: (a) technology increases social connectedness; (b) interest in professional involvement/support; (c) connecting with similar survivors; and (d) apprehension regarding competitive social features. Quantitative data indicated that most survivors were interested in social features including a coach (77.1 per cent), team (66.7 per cent), and exercise buddy (57.3 per cent). Survivors endorsed sharing their activity data with their team (80.0 per cent) and buddy (76.6 per cent), but opinions were mixed regarding a progress board ranking their activity in relation to other participants’ progress. Survivors were interested in using a message board to share strategies to increase activity (74.5 per cent) and motivational comments (73.4 per cent). Social features are of overall interest to breast cancer survivors, yet preferences for specific social support features varied. Engaging survivors in developing and implementing remotely delivered, technology-supported social features may enhance their effectiveness.

scholarly journals Masculinity, Social Connectedness, and Mental Health: Men’s Diverse Patterns of Practice

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1247-1261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah K. McKenzie ◽  
Sunny Collings ◽  
Gabrielle Jenkin ◽  
Jo River
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
The Social ◽  
Patterns Of Practice

Men’s mental health has remained undertheorized, particularly in terms of the gendered nature of men’s social relations. While the importance of social connections and strong supportive networks for improving mental health and well-being is well documented, we know little about men’s social support networks or how men go about seeking or mobilizing social support. An in-depth understanding of the gendered nature of men’s social connections and the ways in which the interplay between masculinity and men’s social connections can impact men’s mental health is needed. Fifteen life history interviews were undertaken with men in the community. A theoretical framework of gender relations was used to analyze the men’s interviews. The findings provide rich insights into men’s diverse patterns of practice in regards to seeking or mobilizing social support. While some men differentiated between their social connections with men and women, others experienced difficulties in mobilizing support from existing connections. Some men maintained a desire to be independent, rejecting the need for social support, whereas others established support networks from which they could actively seek support. Overall, the findings suggest that patterns of social connectedness among men are diverse, challenging the social science literature that frames all men’s social relationships as being largely instrumental, and men as less able and less interested than women in building emotional and supportive relationships with others. The implications of these findings for promoting men’s social connectedness and mental health are discussed.

The Effects of Loss of Loved Ones on Life Satisfaction Among Residents in a Southwest Retirement Community

2011 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Sun ◽  
Vincent Waldron ◽  
Richard Gitelson ◽  
Ching-hua Ho
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Retirement Community ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Life Dissatisfaction ◽  
Received Social Support ◽  
Community Data

The authors examine the roles of social connectedness in mediating the relation between the loss of loved ones and life satisfaction in older residents living in a retirement community. Data were collected through a mail survey on a random sample of 734 older residents ( M age = 67 years, SD = 9.6 years) in a retirement community in the Southwest. Analyses were conducted using SPSS macros for estimating the indirect effects through multiple mediators. Participants who experienced the loss of loved ones in life reported statistically significantly higher life dissatisfaction scores than those who reported no such loss. The effects of loss on perceived life dissatisfaction were partially mediated by individual connectedness and satisfaction with received social support but not by support network size or collective connectedness. Interventions with older adults who experienced loss in life need to help alleviate their loneliness and increase their satisfaction with social support.

scholarly journals Mental Health and Social Connectedness Across the Adult Lifespan in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Madeline A. Gregory ◽  
Nicole K. Legg ◽  
Zachary Senay ◽  
Jamie-Lee Barden ◽  
Peter Phiri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Adult Age

Abstract The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had profound consequences on collective mental health and well-being, and yet, older adults appear better off than younger adults. The current study examined mental health impacts of the pandemic across adult age groups in a large sample (n = 5,320) of Canadians using multiple hierarchical regression analyses. Results suggest older adults are experiencing better mental health and more social connectedness relative to younger adults. Loneliness predicted negative mental health outcomes across all age groups, while the negative association between social support and mental health was only significant at average and high levels of loneliness in the 65–69 age group. Results point towards differential mental health impacts of the pandemic across adult age groups and indicate that loneliness and social support may be key intervention targets during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should further examine mechanisms of resiliency among older Canadian adults during the pandemic.

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