KIN 370 > Social Support > Flashcards

Social Support Flashcards

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1
Q

Social Support

  • History of Study
  • Contributor
    • ​proposed?
A

Last 30 years → health research ↑ interest in social support

  • powerful influence of social relationships on health has gathered interest

Study owes much to work of social epidemiologist John Cassel

  • proposed that SS serves as key psychosocial protective factor that ↓ vulnerability to deleterious effects of stress on health
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2
Q

Social Support & Mortality/Morbidity

(3)

A

Research shows people with high quality/quantity of social networks have ↓ risk of mortality

Social Support may influence incidence & prevalance

Social isolation identified as independant major risk factor for all-cause mortality

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3
Q

Social Support

  • definition
A

information from others that one is loved, cared for, esteemed, valued, part of network of communication & mutual obligations

  • must be reciprocal
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4
Q

Social Support → (2) Main Models

A

1) Buffer Hypothesis
2) Direct Effects Hypothesis

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5
Q

1) Buffer Hypothesis

A

Support related to well-being primarily for person under stress

→ buffers/protects from influence of stress

→ value placed on perception of stress

  • feelings of helplessness arise due to percieved inability to cope with situations demanding effective response
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6
Q

2) Direct Effects Hypothesis

A

influence of support on health is independant of current stress level

  • focus on link between social integration & health
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7
Q

Social Network & Social Support

  • are ____ that describe.. (3) of social relationships
A

Concepts that describe structure, process & functions of social relationships

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8
Q

Social Integration (SI)

  • refers to? (2)
  • significance?
A
  • refers to:
    • existance of social ties
    • principles by which individuals are related to each other in society

protective factor for heart attack morbidity

  • mid-low SI → ↑ 2x post-MI readmission
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9
Q

Social Network

A

refers to web of social relationships that surround individual

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10
Q

Social Support

A

→ important function of social relationships

aid/assistance exchanged through social relationships & interpersonal transactions

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11
Q

Social Support

  • ___ & ____ in numerous ways
  • (4) types
A

defined & measured

1) Emotional support
2) Appraisal support
3) Instrumental support
4) Informational support

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12
Q

1) Emotional support

→ Research implications (2)

A

involves provision of empathy, love, trust & caring

  • can be positive or negative

→ ↓ perceived levels in elderly women predicted ↑ mortality

→ partner’s efforts to exert control are ineffective & can fortify undesired behavior

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13
Q

2) Appraisal support

A

involves provision of information that is useful for self-evaluation

→ constructive feedback, affirmation, & social comparison

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14
Q

3) Instrumental support

A

involves provision of tangible aid & services

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15
Q

4) Informational support

A

involves provision of advice, suggestions & info that can be used to address problems

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16
Q

Social Network → (3) important characteristics

*

A

1) Reciprocity
2) Intensity
3) Complexity

→ dyadic characteristics (between focus person & network)

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17
Q

Social Network → 3 Important Characteristics

1) Reciprocity

A

extent to which resources & support are both given & recieved in a relationship

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18
Q

Social Network → 3 Important Characteristics

2) Intensity

A

extent to which a relationship is characterized by emotional closeness

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19
Q

Social Network → 3 Important Characteristics

3) Complexity

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A

extent to which a relationship serves a variety of functions

20
Q

Social Network → 3 Important Characteristics

  • DYADIC characteristics → meaning?
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A

characteristics of specific relationships between focal individual & others in network

21
Q

Social Support vs. Social Network

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A

SS → 1 on 1 interaction

SN → linkages between people that may or may not provide SS & serve functions other than providing support

22
Q

(3) Characteristics of Social Networks as a Whole

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A

1) Homogeneity
2) Geographic DIspersion
3) Density

23
Q

1) Homogeneity

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A

extent to which network members are similar in terms of demographic characteristics

24
Q

2) Geographic DIspersion

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A

extent to which network members live in close proximity to focal person

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3) Density
extent to which network members **know & interact with each other**
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Conceptual Model of Social Support
depiction of **mechanisms** through which SN & SS may have **positive effects** on **physical/mental & social health** **→** many **pathways** entail **reciprocal influence**
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Conceptual Model of Relationship of SN & SS to Health * **(5) pathways**
1) Direct Effect on **Health** 2) Effect on **Individual Coping Resources** 3) Influence on **Frequency/Duration** of **Exposure to Stressors** 4) Effect on **Community Resources** 5) Potential Effects on **Health Behaviors**
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1) Direct Effect on **Health**
supportive ties enhance health by meeting **basic human needs →** **companionship, intimacy, sense of belonging & reassurance of self-worth**
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2) Effect on **Individual Coping Resources**
enhance ability to: * access **new contacts/information** * **identify & solve problems** **→** if support helps reduced uncertainty/unpredictability or produces desired outcomes, ↑ sense of personal control → help **reinterpret** events/problems in more **constructive** light
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3) Influence on Frequency/Duration of Exposure to Stressors
↓ exposure associated wi th enhanced health
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4) Effect on Community Resources
↑ community's **ability** to **garner resources** & **solve problems** * community **empowerment** & **competence**
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5) Potential Effects on **Health Behaviors**
individuals are influenced & supported in healthy behaviors * help-seeking, adherance to medical regimens, smoking cessation, weight loss affect **incidence/recovery** from **disease** through influence on **preventative, illness & sick role behavior**
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Conceptual Model → Buffering Effect
Resources at **individual & community level** may have **direct health-enhancing effects** & **diminish** negative effects **due to stressor exposure**
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SOCIAL SUPPORT → Translating **Theory** into **Practice**
support-enhancing interventions need to begin with an **assessment** of social networks that are maintained by study popn → can help **diagnose aspects** that are **not meeting needs** of focal individuals & **areas of strength** **WHO** should provide **WHAT** to **WHOM** & **WHEN**?
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Social Support: **Theory → Practice** **WHO** should provide **WHAT** to **WHOM** & **WHEN**? 1) Who → **(3) sources**
effectiveness of support depends on source a) Informal/Natural b) Formal c) Socially SImilar
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Social Support: Theory → Practice WHO should provide WHAT to WHOM & WHEN? **2) What**
**perceptions** of support rather than objective behaviors involved in interactions → necessary to identify **factors** that influence whether behavior is percieved as supportive * previous experiences with helper * social context of relationship * role expectations * individual preferences for type/amount of SS
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Social Support: Theory → Practice WHO should provide WHAT to WHOM & WHEN? **4) When** * effective type of SN & SS *
types of SN & SS that effectively enhance health depend on **age** or **developmental stage** During **major life transition/stressor,** people **benefit** from **different types** of support during **various stages of coping**
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Intervention Implications (3)
1. Need to **Assess** 2. Facilitate **trust, closeness & caring** 3. Importance of **reciprocity**
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WHO ## Footnote a) Informal/Natural b) Formal c) Socially Similar
a) family/friends b) HC professionals c) people who have experienced **similar stressors/situations → ↑ empathetic understanding**
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Types of Interventions (4)
1) Enhancing Existing Network Ties 2) Developing New Social Network Linkages 3) Use of Indigenous Natural Helpers 4) Enhancing Networks through Community Capacity Building & Problem Solving
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Interventions 1) Enhancing Existing Network Ties
attempt to change **attitudes/behaviors** of recipient & providers often include activiites to build **skills** for effective **support mobilization, provision & reciept**
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Interventions 1) Enhancing Existing Network Ties * Challenges (3)
**1) Commitment** **2) Identification** **3) Consistency**
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Interventions 1) Enhancing Existing Network Ties * Challenges (3) 1) Commitment 2) Identification 3) Consistency
1) Identifying network members **committed** to providing **support** & have resources to sustain 2) Identifying **changes in attitudes/behaviors** that will ↑ percieved support 3) intervening in ways **consistent** with norms & interaction styles
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Interventions **2) Developing New Social Network Linkages** a) most useful when? b) most often introduced when?
a) existing network is **small, overburdened** or **unable** to provide **effective support** b) in **response** to **major life transition** or specific **stressor** - may introduce: * **mentors** or **advisors** who have already coped with situation * **buddies** who are experiencing same stressor/life transition at same time
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Interventions **3) Use of Indigenous Natural Helpers** * define **natural helper** * how to?
**natural helper =** SN members that other members naturally turn to for **advice, support** & other types of **aid** Identify NHs by asking - can help link SN members to each other & outside resources
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Interventions ## Footnote **4) Community Capacity Building & Problem Solving**
* involve community members in identifying/resolving community problems * may indirectly **strengthen SN** in community * use **community organizing** techniques to: * enhance community **capacity** to resolve problems * increase **role** in desicion-making * **resolve** specific problems
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