scholarly journals The role of internet-based social support network in immigrant settlement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Xiaoping Lin
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
The Government

This is an exploratory study on the roles that internet-based social networks play in supporting immigrants in their settlement process, using NewBridger as an example. This research finds that online social networks are able to provide informational, socio-emotional, and some material and instrumental support to immigrants that help meet their settlement needs. Information passed through NewBridger helps immigrants with employment, housing, education and training, leisure, and daily living related issues. Socio-emotional support helps reduce acculturative stress by fostering a sense of belonging and friendship, and by exchanging expressions of love, care and encouragement. Support for immigrants also takes the form of social capital building. This study concludes that online social support networks are valuable supplement to formal support networks consisting of the government and the non-profit sector. This study builds on the theoretical frameworks of social support, social capital and acculturative stress.

scholarly journals The role of internet-based social support network in immigrant settlement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Xiaoping Lin
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
The Government

This is an exploratory study on the roles that internet-based social networks play in supporting immigrants in their settlement process, using NewBridger as an example. This research finds that online social networks are able to provide informational, socio-emotional, and some material and instrumental support to immigrants that help meet their settlement needs. Information passed through NewBridger helps immigrants with employment, housing, education and training, leisure, and daily living related issues. Socio-emotional support helps reduce acculturative stress by fostering a sense of belonging and friendship, and by exchanging expressions of love, care and encouragement. Support for immigrants also takes the form of social capital building. This study concludes that online social support networks are valuable supplement to formal support networks consisting of the government and the non-profit sector. This study builds on the theoretical frameworks of social support, social capital and acculturative stress.

scholarly journals Comparisons of Social Support and Social Networks in Homeless and Vulnerably Housed Women

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Stephanie Rattelade ◽  
Susan Farrell
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Homeless Women ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Social Support Network ◽  
Housing Status ◽  
Health And Well Being

Social support is closely connected to mental health and well-being as well as experiences of housing vulnerability. This study explored differences between homeless and vulnerably housed women in their experiences of social support. Forty-nine homeless and 43 vulnerably housed women completed 3 measures to assess their social networks, social support networks, and global social support. Vulnerably housed women reported fewer social support network members than homeless women. Social support network size was found to be a predictor of global social support score. These findings suggest that housing status impacts social support in homeless and vulnerably housed women, which may have implications for their well-being.

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.

Do I Deserve to Spend? Online Social Support and Spending Pleasure

2020 ◽  
pp. 193896552097357
Author(s):  
Kawon Kim ◽  
Melissa A. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Service Industry ◽  
Online Social Network ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
The Social ◽  
Influence Perceptions

Despite evidence of people posting their consumption experiences to online social networks to fulfill the needs of social support, an understanding of how online social support affects post-consumption spending behaviors remains elusive. This research aims to examine how online social support from online social network friends and the firm influence perceptions of self-deservingness and spending pleasure. Across two studies, this research provides evidence that social support gained through online social networks influences consumers’ spending pleasure through perceptions of their own deservingness. Notably, this study reveals that people obtain social support in online social networks from two sources: social networks friends and firms through receiving “Likes” and “Comments” on their post. This study also explores boundary conditions for when online social support is more effective on spending pleasure. The findings not only broaden the social support literature but also address the benefit to the service industry by understanding how social support can enhance spending pleasure.

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 Interconnected communities

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atanas Tomovski ◽  
Josh Finegan ◽  
Simran Rughani
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Young People ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance

Younger cohorts want changes in the environments they live in. They want to live in interconnected environments that provide fluidity between work, home and recreational spaces. Interconnected environments are conducive to young people building connections and social networks, creating interconnected communities. These interconnected communities provide flexibility in work–life balance, improve accessibility to amenities, build latent support networks and social capital, and provide environmental benefits that are congruent with compact living.

scholarly journals The Social Networks and Social Support of Siblings of Children with Cancer

Children ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Wawrzynski ◽  
Melissa A. Alderfer ◽  
Whitney Kvistad ◽  
Lauri Linder ◽  
Maija Reblin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Children With Cancer ◽  
Network Characteristics ◽  
The Social ◽  
Need Support ◽  
Sources Of Support

Siblings of children with cancer need support to ameliorate the challenges they encounter; however, little is known about what types and sources of support exist for siblings. This study addresses this gap in our understanding of the social networks and sources of support for adolescents with a brother or sister who has cancer. Additionally, we describe how the support siblings receive addresses what they feel are the hardest aspects of being a sibling of a child with cancer. During semi-structured interviews, siblings (ages 12–17) constructed ecomaps describing their support networks. Data were coded for support type (emotional, instrumental, informational, validation, companionship) and support provider (e.g., mother, teacher, friend). Network characteristics and patterns of support were explored. Support network size ranged from 3 to 10 individuals (M = 6 ± 1.9); siblings most frequently reported mothers as sources of support (n = 22, 91.7%), followed by fathers (n = 19, 79.2%), close friends (n = 19, 79.2%) and siblings (with or without cancer) (n = 17, 70.8%). Friends and brothers or sisters most often provided validation and companionship while instrumental and informational supports came from parents. This study provides foundational knowledge about siblings’ support networks, which can be utilized to design interventions that improve support for siblings of children with cancer.

scholarly journals Analysis of User Social Support Network in Online Tumor Community

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 184-194
Author(s):  
Hui Lin ◽  
Shijuan Li
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Internet Technology ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Social Support Network ◽  
Information Behaviors ◽  
The Social ◽  
Professional Health

AbstractWith the development of Internet technology, online health forums have become indispensable for people who seek non-professional health support. This research focuses on the content posted by cancer patients and their relatives in online health forums and social networks to raise the following research questions: What is the overall view of the social support network in the online tumor community? What are the information behaviors of the online tumor community in different identities of users? How users interact in this community and build this network of social support? What are the topics users would like to share and talk about? What kinds of users could be the key users in this community? Method: Using the post and comment data of the Oncology Forum of Tianya Hospital in 2019, combined with social network analysis and word co-occurrence network analysis, the following conclusions are obtained: (1) There are some central points in the overall social support network, and there are central users consistent with other social networks. (2) Positive users are more likely to comment on others, and it is easier to get others’ comments, while negative users are more likely to share personal information and do not want to participate more in social interaction. (3) Users focus on posting emotional and emotional content in content sharing. Information-based social support information. The social support experience that this type of information brings to users can be positive and negative. (4) The most active group in the patients’ online health community, followed by the patients’ children. (5) The relationship between users and patients is diverse and there are two types of singularity. Users with diverse relationships are more likely to be commented on, and they are more willing to comment on users who also have diverse relationships.

The Comparability of Event-Related and General Social Support

2011 ◽  
pp. 339-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Hlebec ◽  
Maja Mrzel ◽  
Tina Kogovšek
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Response Format ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
The Social ◽  
Related Approach ◽  
Relation Approach

Some studies (e.g., Kogovšek & Hlebec, 2008, 2009) have shown that the name generator and the role relation approaches to measuring social networks are to some extent comparable, but less so the name generator and the event-related approaches (Hlebec, Mrzel, & Kogovšek, 2009). In this chapter, the composition of the social support network assessed by both the general social support approach and the event-related approach (support during 15 major life events) is analyzed and compared. In both cases, the role relation approach is used. In addition, in both approaches a more elaborate (16 possible categories ranging from partner, mother, father, friend to no one) and a more simple (6 possible categories ranging from family member, friend, neighbor to no one) response format is applied and compared. The aim of the chapter is to establish, in a controlled quasi-experiment setting, whether the different approaches (i.e. the general social support and the event-related approach) produce similar social networks regardless of the response format (long vs. short).

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