Social Support Flashcards
Social Support
- History of Study
-
Contributor
- proposed?
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
Social Support & Mortality/Morbidity
(3)
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
Social Support
- definition
information from others that one is loved, cared for, esteemed, valued, part of network of communication & mutual obligations
- must be reciprocal
Social Support → (2) Main Models
1) Buffer Hypothesis
2) Direct Effects Hypothesis
1) Buffer Hypothesis
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
2) Direct Effects Hypothesis
influence of support on health is independant of current stress level
- focus on link between social integration & health
Social Network & Social Support
- are ____ that describe.. (3) of social relationships
Concepts that describe structure, process & functions of social relationships
Social Integration (SI)
- refers to? (2)
- significance?
- 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
Social Network
refers to web of social relationships that surround individual
Social Support
→ important function of social relationships
aid/assistance exchanged through social relationships & interpersonal transactions
Social Support
- ___ & ____ in numerous ways
- (4) types
defined & measured
1) Emotional support
2) Appraisal support
3) Instrumental support
4) Informational support
1) Emotional support
→ Research implications (2)
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
2) Appraisal support
involves provision of information that is useful for self-evaluation
→ constructive feedback, affirmation, & social comparison
3) Instrumental support
involves provision of tangible aid & services
4) Informational support
involves provision of advice, suggestions & info that can be used to address problems
Social Network → (3) important characteristics
*
1) Reciprocity
2) Intensity
3) Complexity
→ dyadic characteristics (between focus person & network)
Social Network → 3 Important Characteristics
1) Reciprocity
extent to which resources & support are both given & recieved in a relationship
Social Network → 3 Important Characteristics
2) Intensity
extent to which a relationship is characterized by emotional closeness