scholarly journals A Privilege not a Choice: Transnational Support Networks of Asylum Seekers and Expatriates

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 254-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorottya Hoór
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Personal Network ◽  
Opportunity Structures ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
Social Fields ◽  
Transnational Social Fields

The article explores how different factors shape migrants’ transnational social fields and support networks through a comparative study of two different groups of migrants—asylum seekers and expatriates—in Budapest, Hungary. To do so, the study employs a parallel mixed‐methods social network design by combining personal network data with qualitative data based on interviews and ethnographic fieldwork with thirty‐three migrants in the aftermath of the 2015 refugee crisis. The article presents three key findings: First, it finds that asylum seekers’ and expatriates’ networks differ on several key characteristics, as asylum seekers’ close personal networks are less efficient, smaller in size, and show a remarkable lack of friendship and transnational support ties. Second, it also finds that asylum seekers have limited access to social support and, especially so, to financial and emotional support. Lastly, using multi‐level models, the article also demonstrates how migrants’ legal status and the transnationality of their support ties affect their access to financial support, as well as how their gender and legal status shape their access to emotional support. These findings illustrate how migrants’ individual opportunity structures affect their transnational practices alongside their access to social support, while also highlighting the importance of several individual and contextual factors which contribute to the diverse integration processes of migrants.

scholarly journals Structural Embeddedness in Transnational Social Fields: Personal Networks, International (Im)Mobilities, and the Migratory Capital Paradox

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 278-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renáta Hosnedlová ◽  
Ignacio Fradejas‐García ◽  
Miranda J. Lubbers ◽  
José Luis Molina
Keyword(s):  
High Mobility ◽  
International Mobility ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
Personal Network ◽  
Structural Embeddedness ◽  
Transnational Mobility ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Social Fields ◽  
Transnational Social Fields ◽  
Place Of Origin

In this article we focus on individuals’ structural embeddedness in transnational social fields (TSFs) and examine how this is related to patterns of international mobility. The main argument is that the structure of TSFs matters for (im)mobility trajectories, and thus all actors (migrants, non‐migrants, and returnees) need to be examined as a whole to obtain a deeper understanding of the role of social networks in processes of transnational mobility. Taking the case of Romanian migrants in Spain as a TSF connecting their place of origin (Dâmbovița in Romania) with their destination (Castelló in Spain), we analyze survey data for 303 migrants, non‐migrants, and returnees, sampled through an RDS‐like binational link‐tracing design. We then categorize types of personal network using an international mobility scale to assess the degree of structural embeddedness in the TSF. An important contribution is the rigorous operationalization of TSF and assessment of the level of migratory capital of each individual. Our results reveal that migratory capital is not always linked positively with high mobility patterns and that its role is strongly related to the overall composition and structure of the TSF.

scholarly journals Development of Social Support Networks by Patients With Depression Through Online Health Communities: Social Network Analysis

10.2196/24618 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e24618
Author(s):  
Yingjie Lu ◽  
Shuwen Luo ◽  
Xuan Liu
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Social Support Networks ◽  
Informational Support ◽  
To Receive

Background In recent years, people with mental health problems are increasingly using online social networks to receive social support. For example, in online depression communities, patients can share their experiences, exchange valuable information, and receive emotional support to help them cope with their disease. Therefore, it is critical to understand how patients with depression develop online social support networks to exchange informational and emotional support. Objective Our aim in this study was to investigate which user attributes have significant effects on the formation of informational and emotional support networks in online depression communities and to further examine whether there is an association between the two social networks. Methods We used social network theory and constructed exponential random graph models to help understand the informational and emotional support networks in online depression communities. A total of 74,986 original posts were retrieved from 1077 members in an online depression community in China from April 2003 to September 2017 and the available data were extracted. An informational support network of 1077 participant nodes and 6557 arcs and an emotional support network of 1077 participant nodes and 6430 arcs were constructed to examine the endogenous (purely structural) effects and exogenous (actor-relation) effects on each support network separately, as well as the cross-network effects between the two networks. Results We found significant effects of two important structural features, reciprocity and transitivity, on the formation of both the informational support network (r=3.6247, P<.001, and r=1.6232, P<.001, respectively) and the emotional support network (r=4.4111, P<.001, and r=0.0177, P<.001, respectively). The results also showed significant effects of some individual factors on the formation of the two networks. No significant effects of homophily were found for gender (r=0.0783, P=.20, and r=0.1122, P=.25, respectively) in the informational or emotional support networks. There was no tendency for users who had great influence (r=0.3253, P=.05) or wrote more posts (r=0.3896, P=.07) or newcomers (r=–0.0452, P=.66) to form informational support ties more easily. However, users who spent more time online (r=0.6680, P<.001) or provided more replies to other posts (r=0.5026, P<.001) were more likely to form informational support ties. Users who had a big influence (r=0.8325, P<.001), spent more time online (r=0.5839, P<.001), wrote more posts (r=2.4025, P<.001), or provided more replies to other posts (r=0.2259, P<.001) were more likely to form emotional support ties, and newcomers (r=–0.4224, P<.001) were less likely than old-timers to receive emotional support. In addition, we found that there was a significant entrainment effect (r=0.7834, P<.001) and a nonsignificant exchange effect (r=–0.2757, P=.32) between the two networks. Conclusions This study makes several important theoretical contributions to the research on online depression communities and has important practical implications for the managers of online depression communities and the users involved in these communities.

scholarly journals Personal Support Networks of Young People with Mild Intellectual Disabilities during the Transition to Adult Life

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 11810
Author(s):  
Judit Fullana ◽  
Gemma Díaz-Garolera ◽  
Carolina Puyaltó ◽  
Ana Rey ◽  
Rosario Fernández-Peña
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Young People ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Personal Networks ◽  
Personal Network ◽  
Personal Support ◽  
Comparative Results

Social support networks occupy a priority position requiring attention in the processes of social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities, during their transition to adult life. The objective of the study was to analyze social support from a relational approach through Personal Network Analysis. A total of 41 young people with mild intellectual disabilities participated in the study, in two groups differentiated according to their educational stage, either compulsory secondary education or post-compulsory training. Descriptive and comparative results are presented based on the variables of structure, composition, and functional content in the social support of their personal networks. The results show that both groups have restricted personal networks, made up of members of the family and the educational environment who constitute the main providers of support. When moving towards adult life, the change in social contacts in other educational, geographical, and relational settings may mean a change in the provision of support received in previous life stages. Developing social and educational actions to support these people in the development and maintenance of social relationships is essential to their access to support resources that will affect their social inclusion.

scholarly journals Development of Social Support Networks by Patients With Depression Through Online Health Communities: Social Network Analysis (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingjie Lu ◽  
Shuwen Luo ◽  
Xuan Liu
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Social Support Networks ◽  
Informational Support ◽  
To Receive

BACKGROUND In recent years, people with mental health problems are increasingly using online social networks to receive social support. For example, in online depression communities, patients can share their experiences, exchange valuable information, and receive emotional support to help them cope with their disease. Therefore, it is critical to understand how patients with depression develop online social support networks to exchange informational and emotional support. OBJECTIVE Our aim in this study was to investigate which user attributes have significant effects on the formation of informational and emotional support networks in online depression communities and to further examine whether there is an association between the two social networks. METHODS We used social network theory and constructed exponential random graph models to help understand the informational and emotional support networks in online depression communities. A total of 74,986 original posts were retrieved from 1077 members in an online depression community in China from April 2003 to September 2017 and the available data were extracted. An informational support network of 1077 participant nodes and 6557 arcs and an emotional support network of 1077 participant nodes and 6430 arcs were constructed to examine the endogenous (purely structural) effects and exogenous (actor-relation) effects on each support network separately, as well as the cross-network effects between the two networks. RESULTS We found significant effects of two important structural features, reciprocity and transitivity, on the formation of both the informational support network (<i>r</i>=3.6247, <i>P</i>&lt;.001, and <i>r</i>=1.6232, <i>P</i>&lt;.001, respectively) and the emotional support network (<i>r</i>=4.4111, <i>P</i>&lt;.001, and <i>r</i>=0.0177, <i>P</i>&lt;.001, respectively). The results also showed significant effects of some individual factors on the formation of the two networks. No significant effects of homophily were found for gender (<i>r</i>=0.0783, <i>P</i>=.20, and <i>r</i>=0.1122, <i>P</i>=.25, respectively) in the informational or emotional support networks. There was no tendency for users who had great influence (<i>r</i>=0.3253, <i>P</i>=.05) or wrote more posts (<i>r</i>=0.3896, <i>P</i>=.07) or newcomers (<i>r</i>=–0.0452, <i>P</i>=.66) to form informational support ties more easily. However, users who spent more time online (<i>r</i>=0.6680, <i>P</i>&lt;.001) or provided more replies to other posts (<i>r</i>=0.5026, <i>P</i>&lt;.001) were more likely to form informational support ties. Users who had a big influence (<i>r</i>=0.8325, <i>P</i>&lt;.001), spent more time online (<i>r</i>=0.5839, <i>P</i>&lt;.001), wrote more posts (<i>r</i>=2.4025, <i>P</i>&lt;.001), or provided more replies to other posts (<i>r</i>=0.2259, <i>P</i>&lt;.001) were more likely to form emotional support ties, and newcomers (<i>r</i>=–0.4224, <i>P</i>&lt;.001) were less likely than old-timers to receive emotional support. In addition, we found that there was a significant entrainment effect (<i>r</i>=0.7834, <i>P</i>&lt;.001) and a nonsignificant exchange effect (<i>r</i>=–0.2757, <i>P</i>=.32) between the two networks. CONCLUSIONS This study makes several important theoretical contributions to the research on online depression communities and has important practical implications for the managers of online depression communities and the users involved in these communities.

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.

Searching for ‘success’: generation, gender and onward migration in the Iranian diaspora

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Young Age ◽  
Onward Migration ◽  
Social Fields ◽  
Transnational Social Fields ◽  
High Level ◽  
Iranian Diaspora

This article uses the concepts of ‘transnational social fields’ and ‘habitus’ to explore the multifaceted role families play in shaping the aspirations of onward migrating youth. The article draws on biographical life history interviews conducted with the children of Iranian migrants who were raised in Sweden but moved to London, UK as adults. The findings of the study suggest that from a young age, all the participants were pressured by their parents to perform well academically, and to achieve high level careers. These goals were easier to achieve in London than in Sweden for several reasons. Interestingly, however, participants’ understandings of what constituted success and their motivations for onward migration were nuanced and varied considerably by gender. The study contributes to an understanding of the role of multi-sited transnational social fields in shaping the aspirations of migrant youths, as well as the strategies taken up by these migrants to achieve their goals.

Privacy Concern of Health Information Disclosure in mHealth: The Moderate Effect of Social Support (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanyuan Dang ◽  
Shanshan Guo ◽  
Xitong Guo
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Perceived Health ◽  
Privacy Concern ◽  
Informational Support ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Information Sensitivity ◽  
Moderate Effect

BACKGROUND The mobile health (mHealth) provides a new opportunity for patients’ disease prediction and health self-management. At the same time, privacy problems in mHealth have brought forth significant attention concerning patients' online health information disclosure and hindered mHealth development. OBJECTIVE Privacy calculus theory (PCT) has been widely used to understand personal information disclosure behaviors with the basic assumption of a national and linear decision-making process. However, people’s cognitive behavior processes are complex and mutual. In attempting to close this knowledge gap, we further optimize the information disclosure model of patients based on PCT by identifying the mutual relationship between costs (privacy concerns) and benefits. Social support, which has been proved to be a distinct and significant disclosure benefit of mHealth, was chosen to be the representative benefit of information disclosure in mHealth. METHODS From an individual perspective, a structural equation model with privacy concerns, health information disclosure intention in mHealth, and social support from mHealth has been examined. RESULTS 253 randomly selected participants provided validated questionnaire. The result indicated that perceived health information sensitivity positively enhances the privacy concern (0.505, p<0.01), and higher privacy concern levels will decrease the health information disclosure intention (-0.338, p<0.01). Various aspects of individual characters influence perceived health information sensitivity in different ways. The informational support has a negatively moderate on reduce the positive effect between perceived health information sensitivity and privacy concerns (-0.171, p<0.1) and will decrease the negative effect between privacy concerns and health information disclosure intention(-0.105, p<0.1). However, emotional support has no directly moderate effect on both privacy concerns and health information disclosure intention. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that social support can be regarded as a disutility reducer, that is, on the one hand, it reduces the privacy concerns of patients; on the other hand, it also reduces the negative impact of privacy concerns on information disclosure intention. Moreover, the moderate effect of social support is partially supported. Informational support, one demission of social support, is significant, while the other demission, emotional support, is not significant in mHealth. Furthermore, the results are different among patients with different individual characteristics. This study also provides specific theoretical and practical implications to enhance the development of mHealth.

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