A Test of the Social Support Hypothesis

1987 ◽  
Vol 150 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Parker ◽  
B. Barnett

As a test of the social support hypothesis, highly anxious primiparous mothers were assigned in the post-natal stage to either a professional intervention, a lay intervention or to a control group. It was hypothesised that those receiving an active intervention (be it lay or professional assistance) would become less anxious as a consequence of a central therapeutic ingredient – social support. Improvement was assessed by measuring state anxiety levels at baseline and at 12 months, while the degree to which therapists were incorporated into the social network was assessed by the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction (ISSI), given at baseline and at 12 months. While we established that anxiety levels were significantly lowered in those receiving the professional intervention and moderately (but not significantly) lowered in those receiving the lay intervention, ISSI scores for the separate groups appeared stable over the study. Reasons are considered why ISSI scores remained unchanged while intervention groups showed a reduction in anxiety levels.

1985 ◽  
Vol 146 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryanne Barnett ◽  
Gordon Parker

SummaryPrimiparous women (n = 627) were screened on state and trait anxiety measures in the post-partum period; sub-groups of highly anxious (n = 89), moderately anxious (n = 29), and minimally anxious (n = 29) mothers were derived and subsequently interviewed. The high-anxiety mothers were randomly assigned to a professional intervention, to a non-professional intervention, and to a control group, and their progress was reviewed over the following 12 months. Compliance, both in responding to progressive assessments and in accepting therapeutic intervention, was extremely high. Changes in anxiety levels for mothers not receiving an intervention were minimal over the study. In the high-anxiety sub-groups, there was a 19% reduction in state anxiety levels for those receiving a professional intervention, a 12% reduction for those receiving a nonprofessional intervention, and a 3% reduction in the controls. A planned contrast analysis determined that only professional intervention had a significant effect, intervention successfully lowering state anxiety levels to a value comparable with the moderately anxious mothers.


1988 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 543-546
Author(s):  
Sigmund Hough

A pilot study was conducted in preparation for an extensive analysis of the social network characteristics of mildly mentally retarded adults. From a total of 10 clients (aged 25 to 67 yr.) living in residences which were a part of the agency's supportive living program, five were administered the Arizona Social Support Interview Schedule and five were administered the Children's Inventory of Social Support. Recommendations regarding the implementation of social network analysis with mildly mentally retarded adults were discussed.


JMIR Aging ◽  
10.2196/12496 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. e12496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakkoyya H Lewis ◽  
Maria C Swartz ◽  
Eloisa Martinez ◽  
Elizabeth J Lyons

Background Physical activity (PA) is critical for maintaining independence and delaying mobility disability in aging adults. However, 27 to 44% of older adults in the United States are meeting the recommended PA level. Activity trackers are proving to be a promising tool to promote PA adherence through activity tracking and enhanced social interaction features. Although social support has been known to be an influential behavior change technique to promote PA, how middle-aged and older adults use the social interaction feature of mobile apps to provide virtual support to promote PA engagement remains mostly underexplored. Objective This study aimed to describe the social support patterns of middle-aged and older adults using a mobile app as part of a behavioral PA intervention. Methods Data from 35 participants (mean age 61.66 [SD 6] years) in a 12-week, home-based activity intervention were used for this secondary mixed method analysis. Participants were provided with a Jawbone Up24 activity monitor and an Apple iPad Mini installed with the UP app to facilitate self-monitoring and social interaction. All participants were given an anonymous account and encouraged to interact with other participants using the app. Social support features included comments and likes. Thematic coding was used to identify the type of social support provided within the UP app and characterize the levels of engagement from users. Participants were categorized as superusers or contributors, and passive participants were categorized as lurkers based on the literature. Results Over the 12-week intervention, participants provided a total of 3153 likes and 1759 comments. Most participants (n=25) were contributors, with 4 categorized as superusers and 6 categorized as lurkers. Comments were coded as emotional support, informational support, instrumental support, self-talk, and other, with emotional support being the most prevalent type. Conclusions Our cohort of middle-aged and older adults was willing to use the social network feature in an activity app to communicate with anonymous peers. Most of our participants were contributors. In addition, the social support provided through the activity app followed social support constructs. In sum, PA apps are a promising tool for delivering virtual social support to enhance PA engagement and have the potential to make a widespread impact on PA promotion. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01869348; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01869348


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakkoyya H Lewis ◽  
Maria C Swartz ◽  
Eloisa Martinez ◽  
Elizabeth J Lyons

BACKGROUND Physical activity (PA) is critical for maintaining independence and delaying mobility disability in aging adults. However, 27 to 44% of older adults in the United States are meeting the recommended PA level. Activity trackers are proving to be a promising tool to promote PA adherence through activity tracking and enhanced social interaction features. Although social support has been known to be an influential behavior change technique to promote PA, how middle-aged and older adults use the social interaction feature of mobile apps to provide virtual support to promote PA engagement remains mostly underexplored. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe the social support patterns of middle-aged and older adults using a mobile app as part of a behavioral PA intervention. METHODS Data from 35 participants (mean age 61.66 [SD 6] years) in a 12-week, home-based activity intervention were used for this secondary mixed method analysis. Participants were provided with a Jawbone Up24 activity monitor and an Apple iPad Mini installed with the UP app to facilitate self-monitoring and social interaction. All participants were given an anonymous account and encouraged to interact with other participants using the app. Social support features included comments and likes. Thematic coding was used to identify the type of social support provided within the UP app and characterize the levels of engagement from users. Participants were categorized as superusers or contributors, and passive participants were categorized as lurkers based on the literature. RESULTS Over the 12-week intervention, participants provided a total of 3153 likes and 1759 comments. Most participants (n=25) were contributors, with 4 categorized as superusers and 6 categorized as lurkers. Comments were coded as emotional support, informational support, instrumental support, self-talk, and other, with emotional support being the most prevalent type. CONCLUSIONS Our cohort of middle-aged and older adults was willing to use the social network feature in an activity app to communicate with anonymous peers. Most of our participants were contributors. In addition, the social support provided through the activity app followed social support constructs. In sum, PA apps are a promising tool for delivering virtual social support to enhance PA engagement and have the potential to make a widespread impact on PA promotion. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01869348; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01869348


KRITIS ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-56
Author(s):  
Jos Josia Beeh ◽  
Sri Suwartiningsih ◽  
Elly Esra Kudubun

The village Bokonusan is the location on the Semau Island and the district of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. Norma and refers to the contructual obligations between members of society in accordance with the rules of the costums, trust that refer to expectation and goals together in building in accordance with the values of mutual cooperation of solidarity of the community. As for the porpouse of research to, give me a description of application of the local Dale Esa in the life together in the village Bokonusan, as well as explain the elements of what is contained in the wisdom of Dale Esa as social capital in communities Bokonusan village. The method used is a qualitatve and approach to the contructivism oh the research descriptive aksplanative. Interwoven ily tradition, a marriege, birth, death, a new garden work (teh management of the land) and conflic resolution. The application of valeu to keep in daily life as from of social interaction. In the wisdom of Dale Esa the cooperation between the community refers to social relationships between societies so that, the social network, the obligation, prohibition, the rigth have, between members of the community to help each other as a from social norm, the emergance of the hope and goals together to build together as result the trust.


2021 ◽  
pp. 000992282110406
Author(s):  
Zeynep Reyhan Onay ◽  
Tugba Ramasli Gursoy ◽  
Tugba Sismanlar Eyuboglu ◽  
Ayse Tana Aslan ◽  
Azime Sebnem Soysal Acar ◽  
...  

We aim to evaluate the anxiety levels of caregivers of children with tracheostomy during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Caregivers of 31 children with tracheostomy and 105 healthy children (control group) were included. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered via teleconference in order to investigate how participants describe how they feel at a particular moment (State) and how they generally feel (Trait). The trait anxiety levels of caregivers of children with tracheostomy were significantly higher ( P = .02). Their state anxiety levels were similar. The state and trait anxiety levels of caregivers of children with tracheostomy correlated ( r = 0.70, P < .001). At the end of the teleconference, caregivers of children with tracheostomy experienced greater anxiety relief than controls ( P < .001). Trait anxiety scores were higher among caregivers of children with tracheostomy, but their state anxiety levels were comparable to those of controls. Caregivers with high trait anxiety also exhibited high state anxiety. Informing caregivers of children with tracheostomy about COVID-19 via teleconference can reduce their anxiety during such stressful times.


Author(s):  
Elisabet Ruiz-Dotras ◽  
Krystyna Mitręga-Niestrój

Using survey data from an online Spanish university, real and perceived financial literacy levels, social interactions and personal trust with the social network are measured as key elements for collaborative finance development. This is the first study regarding the factors that may affect the use of collaborative finance. Results show levels of financial literacy are quiet low as in prior studies and individuals consider that the bank manager, friends, and parents can manage financial issues better than them, with the last two peers being those who most trust to discuss financial issues. The findings also provide information about how little individuals trust online networks when it comes to financial matters. Besides, respondents interact moderately with their social network missing the benefits of peer-to-peer learning. Overall, lack of financial literacy, low social interaction, and personal trust may be affecting the short use of collaborative financial services.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 155798832091338
Author(s):  
Amy E. Harley ◽  
David Frazer ◽  
Tyler Weber ◽  
Terron C. Edwards ◽  
Nicole Carnegie

The aim of this study was to assess outcomes from a multilevel social network intervention to promote the health of Black men. Through a community–academic collaboration and using a participatory research approach, we implemented the intervention over 4 years in a 110-block area of an urban neighborhood. The project aimed to implement a neighborhood peer outreach and leadership network to strengthen social support of Black men and increase community and family engagement. Intervention activities included three 12-month intergenerational peer support groups ( N = 46), a door-to-door outreach campaign ( N = 186), media and communication efforts, and a community partner network. Primary outcomes for the peer support groups were measured using a pretest/posttest cohort design and included social support, perceived stress, social capital, and global self-esteem. Primary outcomes for the door-to-door outreach campaign were measured using a repeated cross-sectional design and included a sense of community, neighborhood social interaction, perceived neighborhood control, and self-rated health status. Significant findings from the peer support groups included an increase in social support overall ( p = .027), driven by improvements in guidance, reliable alliance, and reassurance of worth; and an improvement in perceived stress ( p = .047). Significant findings from the door-to-door outreach campaign included increases in neighborhood social interaction ( p < .0001) and perceived neighborhood control ( p = .036). This project provides evidence that a participatory approach to planning and delivering a health promotion intervention aimed at creating positive social spaces and enhancing social connections can result in significant outcomes and successful engagement of Black men.


2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 990-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott R. Beach ◽  
Richard Schulz ◽  
Rodlescia Sneed

Social support and social networks are important correlates of elder mistreatment. This study tests hypothesized associations between perceived social support, social network size, and financial exploitation (FE). A population-based survey of 903 older adults (60+) in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) found that lower perceived social support and larger social networks were simultaneously associated with higher risk for FE since age 60, controlling for known risk factors. The same associations were found for FE in the last 6 months. Older adults with larger social networks combined with lower perceived social support were most likely to report FE. When it comes to the role of social relationships and risk for FE, “more may not always be better.” Encouragement to widen the social network by “making new friends” should be stressed less than making sure these new network members will truly be supportive of the older adult.


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