Social Support Flashcards
Main takeaway from this lecture
Caring, committed relationships, whether with family or friends, are health producing
Definition of health
State of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
Looking at the lack of social connections risk (from Brigham Young study)
Equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, being an alcoholic, more harmful than not exercising, twice as harmful as obesity
Strongest predictors of likelihood of post open heart surgery survival (from Dartmouth study)
Those who were active in their community, those who found strength and comfort in their religious faith. If both true - 14x less likely to die within 6 months
What is social support?
The presence of others or the resources they provide (emotional, spiritual, physical, and financial)
Quality of social support likely to impact health
The number of support persons, the availability and access to the support, the quality of the support system (satisfaction gained)
Findings from the Alemeda study
The greater the number of social connections, the lower the rate of mortality from ASCVD. A breakdown in social networks resulted in a reversal of the trend.
What is the impact of isolation?
Isolation and loneliness create responses in the human body simialr to those of stress
Depression and suicide in med students and physicians
Males are 40% more likely to commit suicide, females are 130% more likely. One doctor per day commits suicide. 30-40% of med students will experience clinical depression. 1 in 10 harbor active suicidal thoughts.
What is the direct mechanism of social support?
Immune function - nursing study found that women with insecure attachment style had lower immune function.
Increased catecholamine and inflammatory cytokine release.
What is the indirect mechanism of social support?
Resources of the strong supportive social network simply buffer the impact of the disease process
Perceived usefulness to friends and family
A study asked aging adults between 70-79 how they rated their own usefulness to family and friends. 7 years later, they were evaluated for mortality and other health. Lower mortality and chronic health problems were found in the group that rated themselves high on usefulness
Loneliness and the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
Participants rated their level of perceived loneliness for 5 years. Findings: the higher the loneliness rating, the more likely to develop cognitive problems. The loneliest 10% were 2x more likely to develop Alzheimer’s
Impact of the internet
55% of people over 65 use the internet and women over 55 are the fastest growing group on Facebook. Social networks do not have the same protective impact as real relationships.
Depression and Facebook use
Facebook use increases the likelihood of depression. Facebook use predicts negative shifts on overall life feelings and momentary feelings
Singles are less health (British study)
10,000 patients over 10 years. Found that being single carries the same risk to longevity as smoking 1 PPD. Negative effects become measurable around the age of 30.
Bridget Jones Effect
Eat less healthy, consume more alcohol, smoke more cigarettes, less visits to PCP, work longer hours
Marital health benefits
Does not appear to be related to decrease in undesirable events. Not explained by mere presence.
Long term health effects of divorce
Powerful predictor of physical and emotional illness. Same approximate elevated overall cancer risk as smoking 1 PPD. Relative risk for all cancers increased amongst those who have been divorced. Suicide is 3x more likely
Impact of marriage on cancer
Married pts were less likely to present with metastatic disease; more likely to receive definitive therapy; less likely to die as a result of their cancer after adjusting for demographics, etc…
Healer’s impact
Pts perception that they are cared for has a positive impact on their health. Physicians who interact with patients in a compassionate manner make more accurate diagnoses and produce greater patient compliance
Health implications of faith
40% of pts stated religious beliefs were their most important means of handling stress; less mental health issues, lower suicide risk
Importance of spiritual history
63% of pts surveyed felt their doctors should ask about their spiritual faith
Studies on the health implications of faith
Post-op hip surgical study found that women with a higher level of religious commitment recovered faster overall. One study showed that not a single person reported becoming less religious after being diagnosed with cancer. CV impact/lower diastolic pressure amongst those who rated faith as highly important in their life
How does faith help people cope with health related stress?
It provides hope, control, strength, meaning, and purpose.
