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PubMed1992

Employment, social networks, and health in the retirement years.

The impact of employment on the health of retirees is examined, with particular attention to the hypothesis that social roles affect health through their impact on social networks. Data are based on comprehensive assessment questionnaires completed by 175 participants of a corporate sponsored geriatric clinic. Results indicate that employment in the retirement years is related to larger social networks and indirectly, through this relationship, to better perceived health. Of the three social network factors identified through factor analysis: family, friends, and confidant relationships, employment was significantly related only to the friendship component. A summary analytic model is presented and implication for interventions are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Social networks of old people in India: research and policy.

This article presents a comparative analysis of the available research on the social networks of older persons in India. Most of this research has been done in North Indian cities. The research foci of the available studies include network size, core networks and beyond, life course changes in networks, impacts of residency in old-age homes, gender differences, and joint and nuclear family residence. This research is discussed in terms of its policy implications. Because the research demonstrates that social networks are important for the welfare of older Indians, one can conclude that social policy that encourages the maintenance of robust networks throughout the life course may be worth pursuing. One aspect of policy is discussed. The analysis of the relationship between social network and gender suggests that current policies that can be seen as supporting gender inequality in terms of property may have a negative impact on the networks of older women.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

The quantity and quality of the social networks of young people with early psychosis compared with closely matched controls.

This study compares the social networks and perceived social support of 26 people with early psychosis and 26 people without a mental illness. The two groups were closely matched for age, sex, education level, and employment and relationship status, and had equivalent levels of depression. There were no differences between the two groups in the amount of perceived social support, number of family members, and number of participants with acquaintances. However, the psychosis group identified significantly smaller networks, t (50)=-2.34, P=0.024, with fewer friends, t (48)=-3.61, P=0.001, fewer people to turn to in a crisis, t (22.97)=-2.34, P=0.028, and a higher likelihood of service providers as members, chi(2)(1)=7.02, P=0.008. Given the important relationship between strong social networks and high levels of community functioning and tenure, future research needs to evaluate the type of social support most beneficial for people with early psychosis and to develop strategies to maintain and facilitate that support.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

Gender differences in social network characteristics and psychological well-being among Hong Kong Chinese: the role of future time perspective and adherence to Renqing.

Gender differences in social network characteristics are well documented in the literature. Socio-emotional selectivity theory emphasizes the importance of future time perception on selection of social partners whereas cultural studies stress the roles of Renqing (relationship orientation) on social interactions. This study examined the effects of future time perspective and adherence to Renqing on social network characteristics, and their associations with psychological well-being of 321 Chinese men and women, aged 28-91 years. Results showed that adherence to Renqing partially accounted for gender differences in the number of relatives, even after controlling for the effects of extraversion and structural factors. Moreover, women, but not men, with lower adherence to Renqing and more limited future time perspective were found to be happier when they had fewer close friends in their social networks.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Consultation with the general practitioner triggered by advice from social network members.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether advice from a person's social network triggers contact with the general practitioner (GP). DESIGN: Case-crossover design comparing the frequency of advice given to seek medical attention in the period before contact with a GP and the frequency in matching control time periods for the same individual. SETTING: Twenty-one Danish GPs working in single-handed practices. SUBJECTS: 322 patients, aged between 18 and 91 years, were interviewed by telephone after an unscheduled visit to their GP; 148 were interviewed again 3-6 months later. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: The odds of individuals consulting their GP after receiving advice from network members in the period before they contacted their GP compared with the odds of those consulting their GP in the control period(s). RESULTS: Being advised by others to seek medical attention increased the likelihood of seeking primary health care approximately fivefold--single men received advice significantly less frequently (7%) than women (18%) and cohabiting men (32%). CONCLUSION: Advice from other social network members to seek medical attention is a frequent and influential cue prompting individuals to contact their GP.

Cross-Over Studies↗
PubMed1976

Community intervention with the elderly: a social network approach.

A technique is described for using the advantages of a social systems approach when working with elderly persons in psychiatric distress. The technique is based on the assumption that the solution to a variety of human predicaments lies within the collective instrumental and affective resources of the client's social network. The vehicle for accomplishing this objective is the "Network Session" during which a mental health professional meets with the elderly person and members of his/her social network to help resolve the difficulty. A case report demonstrating use of the technique is included.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Social network disturbances and psychological distress following earthquake evacuation.

The relationship between social network disturbances following earthquake evacuation and self-reported psychological distress (reduced version of the SCL-90-R) 3 to 4 years later was studied among 817 Italian male factory workers. Increased distress was reported by permanently relocated men, while those who were evacuated, but returned to their original homes, reported distress levels comparable to their nonevacuated co-workers. Additionally, among evacuated men, only those whose relocation placed them at an increased distance from family and/or friends reported distress levels higher than the nonevacuated. Change in visiting frequency with family and/or friends following evacuation was not related to distress. Although these data are correlational and cross-sectional, they are consistent with the hypothesis that disaster related distress is, in part, a function of resulting social network disruption.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[The social network--on a sociologic concept in psychiatry].

For quite some time has been a boom of social network analysis in the field of social psychiatry in Western industrial countries. Their main hypothesis is that the scope and quality of a person's social relations have a specific connection with this person's psychic health. This article exemplifies some specialized studies on the subject. In spite of the fact that the way in which the concept of social networks was applied has been criticized for being empiristic and reductionist, the author stresses its potential for socio-psychiatric research and practice and pleads for its application in the G.D.R.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1986

Gender differences in predicting loneliness from social network characteristics.

In two studies we examined gender differences in predicting loneliness from measures of social network structure and a measure of perceived social support. The results showed that social network characteristics, especially density, were consistently better predictors of perceived loneliness for men than for women. Study 1 used the traditional measure of network density in which the number of relationships among network members was determined. Study 2 used a newly developed index of density that assessed the extent of closeness of relationships between pairs of network members. Uniformly, male subjects with more highly interconnected, cohesive sets of friends reported themselves to be less lonely, whereas density had little relation to loneliness in female subjects. These results are discussed as possibly indicating that men and women use different standards in evaluating whether they are lonely. It is suggested that men may use more group-oriented criteria in evaluating loneliness, whereas women focus more on the qualities of dyadic relationships.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Correlations between some features of social networks and treatment outcome in patients with schizophrenia three years after initial hospitalization].

There were studied correlations between some features of social networks of 56 DSM-III schizophrenic patients and "specific aims of treatment": insight, satisfaction of the treatment, compliance, motivation for the treatment and "outcome of treatment" in psychopathological and social level three years from the first admission. There were used Fallow-up Chart, Bizoń's Social Support Questionnaire, BPRS-LA scale and Social Assessment Scale (SAS). There were obtained statistically significant results concerning correlations between the type of support (concentrated, dispersed, and mixed) and the size of the extra-familiar network and the "specific aims" of treatment. This means that patients who have a mixed type of social support and a extended extra-familiar social network obtain better specific treatment aims as: motivation for treatment, co-operation in treatment, insight and a subjective satisfaction of treatment. There exists also significant correlation between some features of social network such as the range of network, the amount and localisation of support and the size of the extra-familiar network and the psychopathology level. The patients who get little support and those whose whole support is localised in family have higher level of negative symptoms measured with BPRS sub-scale. Patients of little range of the social network, including extra-familiar network show more positive symptoms three years after the first hospitalisation. There were found no correlations between the social network features and profession.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Social networks and family violence in cross-cultural perspective.

The purpose of this chapter was twofold. First, the chapter put forward a brief cross-cultural perspective indicating that multiple types of intrafamilial violence occur cross-culturally. Second, the chapter placed social networks at the core of a complex etiology of intrafamilial violence. The purpose of giving centrality to social networks is not to suggest that social networks are the sole or primary agent contributing to family violence but to broaden the context in which family violence is viewed beyond that of the perpetrator, the victim/survivor, or the violent dyad.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

The social network of people who attempt suicide.

Social characteristics and self-rating of social support by means of the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction were investigated in 75 inpatients after a suicide attempt. We found that very few suicide attempters (13%) had a well functioning relationship, and two-thirds had problems in their occupational situation. Divorced patients had unsatisfactory social interaction compared with those who were married or cohabiting and with those who were single or widowed. Employees and students more often had deep emotional relations than those who were unemployed or in vocational rehabilitation. The latter were also less satisfied with their social interaction than those who were retired or had a disability pension. Poor social interaction was more commonly reported by patients with dysthymia than by those in other diagnostic subgroups. We conclude that an evaluation of the social network should be an integral part of the clinical handling of suicide attempters, since it forms a basis for planning psychiatric treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Focus on secondary prevention: implications of a study on intervention in social networks.

Screening and brief intervention (SBI) as a method within secondary prevention of alcohol use-related problems has experienced enormous attention and interest over the past 20 years. Initial results were very promising and great effort was put into designing screening instruments and developing different kinds of interventions. However, at the same time, the approach has generated problems in its own right. Some of these problems relate to standardization of instruments and some to criteria of inclusion into samples; others relate to the focus on the individual drinking style independent from social influences. In light of these problems, it is necessary to elaborate on the theoretical foundation, as well as on the methods used in SBI. This article introduces a method for intervening in social networks with important implications for SBI. By putting emphasis on the motivational part of SBI and including social networks in the field of intervention, it may be assumed that the approach will produce better results than heretofore. The results from a Danish qualitative study on intervening into the social network of social drinkers are presented. This study was carried out between 1991 and 1999 and involved 13 adult Danes between 35 and 45 years of age. They all had a weekly alcohol consumption of 120 to 360 g of pure alcohol and they all considered themselves to be social drinkers. The results of this study show that enhanced awareness of the person's own drinking, as well as that of peers, may influence decisions about specific drinking situations. These findings and the perspectives for SBI are discussed. Recommendations for further research are also presented.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

A randomized social network HIV prevention trial with young men who have sex with men in Russia and Bulgaria.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of an HIV prevention intervention with social networks of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in St. Petersburg, Russia and Sofia, Bulgaria. DESIGN: A two-arm randomized trial with a longitudinally-followed community cohort. METHODS: Fifty-two MSM social networks were recruited through access points in high-risk community venues. Network members (n = 276) were assessed to determine risk characteristics, administered sociometric measures to empirically identify the social leader of each network, and counseled in risk reduction. The leaders of 25 experimental condition networks attended a nine-session program that provided training and guidance in delivering ongoing theory-based HIV prevention advice to other network members. Leaders successively targeted network members' AIDS risk-related knowledge and risk reduction norms, attitudes, intentions, and self-efficacy. Participants were re-administered risk assessment measures at 3- and 12-month follow-ups. RESULTS: Among changes produced, the percentage of experimental network members reporting unprotected intercourse (UI) declined from 71.8 to 48.4% at 3-month follow up (P = 0.0001). The percentage who engaged in UI with multiple partners reduced from 31.5 to 12.9% (P = 0.02). After 12 months, the effects became attenuated but remained among participants who had multiple recent sexual partners, the most vulnerable group. Little change was found in control group networks. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions that engage the identified influence leaders of at-risk YMSM social networks to communicate theory-based counseling and advice can produce significant sexual risk behavior change. This model is culturally pertinent for HIV prevention efforts in former socialist countries, as well as elsewhere for other hard-to-reach vulnerable community populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Assessing the social networks of people with psychiatric disability from multiple perspectives.

The study uses a sample of 97 new members of a mutual-help organization for the seriously mentally ill and 97 of their significant others (61 family members and 36 friends) to examine 1) the degree to which respondents' perceptions of dyadic relationships can be corroborated by network members and 2) the relationship of congruence of perception between respondent-network member pairs, characteristics of respondents' social networks and self-reported symptoms and social adjustment. Results showed strong variability in the degree to which respondents' perceptions were corroborated by network members, with a higher degree of corroboration for factual information such as face-to-face contact than for global aspects of dyadic relationships. Congruence of perception between respondents and family was associated with respondents' feelings of satisfaction about the quality of network ties and better psychological and social functioning. In contrast, congruence of perception between respondents and friends was related to a sense of involvement from ones network, but unrelated to respondents' mental health. The advantages of multiple perspectives data in studying the social ties of people with psychiatric disability are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Social network and role demands in women's Type 2 diabetes: a model.

Type 2 diabetes is a common chronic disease in middle-aged and older women. The social network, although an important source of support, can place conflicting demands on women who cope with a chronic disorder. Because this paradoxical situation can be a burden for many women a model was constructed to systematically investigate social network demands in women's Type 2 diabetes. In developing the model, network theory provided the framework and an extensive literature review determined which network components should be included. Material from our individual and focus group interviews was used to clarify the model. Traditional gender roles in the home, obligation profiles at the workplace, cultural expectations on women's bodies, and prejudice about the psychological etiology of women's diseases in health care, could all contribute to women's experiencing role conflict in their daily diabetes management. To systematically investigate potential deterrents to women's self-care, questions that address the different components of women's social networks are proposed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation of a social network HIV prevention intervention program for young men who have sex with men in Russia and Bulgaria.

HIV prevention, by intervening within social networks, is potentially important but highly understudied. Approaches that systematically identify, train, and enlist known social influence leaders to advise members of their own networks in risk reduction constitute ways to reach hidden population segments, persons who are distrustful of authorities but trust their peers, and those who cannot be reached through traditional professionally delivered counseling. This article illustrates and provides evaluation data on a program that recruited 14 intact social networks of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Sofia, Bulgaria. Sociometric measures were used to identify the social leader of each network, and baseline risk assessment measures were administered to all members of each social network. The sociometrically determined leaders then attended a six-session group program that provided training and guidance in how to carry out theory-based and tailored HIV prevention conversations with members of their own social networks. Four months after leaders completed the program, all network members were readministered risk assessment measures. Pre- to postintervention data revealed that the program produced: (1) increases in the level and comfort with which network members talked about AIDS prevention topics in their daily conversations; (2) increased network-level AIDS risk reduction knowledge and improved risk reduction norm perceptions, attitudes, behavioral intentions, and self-efficacy; and (3) increased condom use levels among network members. Although not a controlled, randomized trial, these program evaluation findings strongly support the feasibility of social network-level HIV prevention approaches.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Factors relate to participation in medical checkups in a rural community an analysis including social network scores].

Since 1969, community-based stroke prevention programs have been conducted in N town, Kochi prefecture. To clarify factors related to participation in medical checkups including social networks, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was performed on 6,704 residents aged 40 and over in N town in 1996. 1. Location of the workplace, types of medical insurance and interest in health were significantly associated with participation in medical checkups. 2. Participation in medical examinations provided at the workplace was significantly, inversely related with participation rates in community checkups in the group aged 40 to 59 years. 3. Low independence level in daily activities was inversely associated with participation rates for medical checkups in groups aged 60 years and older. 4. Visiting medical facilities was inversely associated with the participation rate for medical checkups in female groups. 5. The group with the highest social networks score (5 points) had the highest participation rate for medical checkups. After adjusting for other participation related factors, social networks scores had a significantly positive association with the participation rate for medical checkups provided by the Health Services for the Elderly Act.

Adult↗