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PubMed1993

Social networks and social support of recently divorced women.

A study of the support networks and social support of recently divorced women with children was conducted over two years. Its purpose was to assess changes in the women's social support and identify their unmet needs. Data were collected from 148 women by mailed questionnaire and telephone interview soon after the final divorce decree, and again at two years. The women did experience a significant decrease in network size and social support over two years; however, the primary members of their networks--family and friends--remained stable. Women with preschool-age children had more family support than those with older children. Nine categories of unmet needs were identified. Most frequently cited, in descending order, were emotional support, financial assistance, need for a boyfriend/partner/spouse, time for herself, and child care. The average number of needs per woman was less than two. The findings of this study confirm the losses in overall network size and support that women experience after divorce. The identification of unmet needs helps nurses to target areas in which women may require assistance to find social support.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Social skill as determinant of social networks and perceived social support in schizophrenia.

Factors influencing supportive social networks of people with schizophrenia are little understood. Data from 46 outpatients with schizophrenia were analysed using structural equation modelling to test plausible sets of inter-relationships between social skill, social networks, and social support. The data supported a tentative model about the causal relationships between variables. Paths showed that people with greater social skill had larger social networks, but did not necessarily perceive greater support from these networks. Negative symptoms accounted for some of the effect of social skill on social networks. Whereas groups of single-admission and multiple-admission participants did not differ in terms of social skill, social networks, or support, the age of the participants influenced their social skill and the size of their social networks. Younger participants had greater social skill and larger social networks. The results appear to suggest the importance of early intervention for young people with first-episode psychosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Personality, social networks, and perceived social support among alcoholics: a structural equation analysis.

In this study we tested relations among personality characteristics, social network properties, and perceived social support both concurrently and prospectively. A sample of 294 men in treatment at a Department of Veterans Affairs Alcohol Treatment Unit was assessed during treatment and 3 months after discharge. Results of the cross-sectional structural equation analyses indicated that the personality characteristics of extraversion and neuroticism were related to both social network properties and perceived social support. Characteristics of the alcoholic's social network were also related to perceived availability of support. Longitudinal analyses of perceived social support after treatment indicated that two social network properties (size of the network and the proportion of confidants) were predictive net of initial levels of social support. Extraversion and neuroticism were found to be indirectly related to perceived social support at Time 2 through their effects on social network properties and perceived social support during treatment. Implications of these findings for models of the nature and determinants of perceived social support are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Social network structure and social support in HIV-positive inner city mothers.

It has been documented that social support influences health outcomes of persons with chronic illnesses. The incidence of HIV and AIDS among minority women is growing at an alarming rate, but little is known about social support in this vulnerable population, and even less is known about the social network conveying that support. Guided by the convoy of social networks model, this study describes the social networks in a sample of HIV-positive, urban-dwelling mothers (N = 147) by stage of disease (i.e., asymptomatic, symptomatic, AIDS) and examines relationships between social network structure and social support. Hierarchical linear modeling showed that women's social networks were disproportionately populated by children, and network members of women with AIDS were significantly older than network members of HIV-positive women with or without symptoms. Profile analyses showed that women's perceptions of the quality of social support differed according to the proportion of family members populating different segments of the social network.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

Elderly persons' social network and need for social support after their first myocardial infarction.

Social network and social support are phenomena suggested to be of importance to successful recovery from myocardial infarction. However, very few studies have been carried out, especially among the elderly, focusing on their social network and its ability to provide adequate support after myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to examine elderly persons' social network and need for social support three months after their first myocardial infarction. The sample consisted of 128 persons between 65 and 94 years of age who answered a questionnaire. The results showed that the subjects, even the oldest ones, had an available social network and that they were satisfied with the support it provided. There was an increased need for social support after the myocardial infarction, especially for emotional support and appraisal, but also for instrumental aid and information. Despite these positive results indicating that elderly persons with myocardial infarction have a social network, whose members provide them with support, there may be a need for support also from persons outside this network. Assessment of social network characteristics and the need for social support as well as the provision of adequate information about additional support networks are important tasks for all health professionals.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2004

To have but one true friend: implications for practice of research on alcohol use disorders and social network.

Although social networks play an integral role in the recognition and resolution of drinking problems, social network influences may be positive, negative, or mixed. The author reviewed empirical literature on positive and negative aspects of the structure of problem drinkers' social networks, the impact of the social network on problem recognition, social network predictors of treatment outcomes, treatments that involve the social network in treatment, and posttreatment changes in social network structure and functioning. Future directions for research and clinical implications of research findings are discussed.

Alcohol-Related Disorders↗
PubMed2004

Models of social networks based on social distance attachment.

We propose a class of models of social network formation based on a mathematical abstraction of the concept of social distance. Social distance attachment is represented by the tendency of peers to establish acquaintances via a decreasing function of the relative distance in a representative social space. We derive analytical results (corroborated by extensive numerical simulations), showing that the model reproduces the main statistical characteristics of real social networks: large clustering coefficient, positive degree correlations, and the emergence of a hierarchy of communities. The model is confronted with the social network formed by people that shares confidential information using the Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption algorithm, the so-called web of trust of PGP.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1991

Social network and social support deficits in depressed patients: a result of distorted perception?

Many studies have indicated that depressed individuals show deficits in social network/social support. However, little attention has been paid to the extent to which the illness itself causes these deficits that, owing to the distortion of perception of depressed patients, might be experienced subjectively, but do not necessarily exist objectively. To examine this question, a prospective study was conducted with hospitalized depressed patients. In accordance with the assumption that the duration of illness has a special impact on social resources, the sample was divided into two groups: individuals with single episodes of depression (n = 25) and with recurrent depression (n = 25). At the beginning of hospitalization both groups showed massive deficits in social network/social support. Depressed individuals with single episodes showed fewer deficits, the more the depression improved. In contrast, such a covariation of severity of depression and the amount of experienced deficits was not found among the individuals with recurrent depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Social networks and adult social identities: profiles and correlates of support and rejection.

The growth of interest in social networks has underscored the need for integrative analyses of network dimensions. A three-pronged strategy to achieve this objective was pursued in a study of 261 married women nurses. First, network variables related to important adult social identities were differentiated. Factor analyses revealed four network interaction factors: work support, work rejection, general support, and general rejection. An additional factor analysis differentiated work associates from nonwork network members. Second, cluster analysis of these factor scores identified five different network profiles. The profiles differed in the importance of the woman's work to her nonwork ties as well as the frequency and pattern of different positive and negative interactions. Third, individuals with these contrasting network profiles differed on levels of life satisfaction and psychological symptomatology. The discussion emphasizes social network differences within the broader context of the ecology of human development.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2005

[Instruments for the measurement of the social network].

The social network can be an important pathogenic, pathoplastic, or protective factor in the development and course of mental and somatic illnesses. "Social network" describes a complex construct which has been understood, defined, and operationalized in many different ways. In research and clinical practice it is advisable to refer to scientifically elaborated instruments when measuring or evaluating the social network of patients. In this paper a review is given on available instruments for the measurement of the social network. They are discussed in respect to their clinical usefulness. Only few measures can be recommended for clinical practice because of the time needed to get the information or because of their content.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Cancer patients and their network: the meaning of the social network and social interactions for quality of life.

A lot of research is carried out on the subject of social relations and quality of life. One should find at least some indication for an association between the social environment and quality of life of cancer patients; will interventions be appropriate and well-considered? But until now, less has been known about the association between the social network of cancer patients and their quality of life. In this study, the way in which the patients' network can effect their quality of life is examined. Two patient groups are distinguished: a group of cancer patients recently treated for their cancer by surgery and a group treated by chemotherapy (n = 108 and n = 109) and these are compared with a disease-free group of cancer patients (n = 192). Although an association between network, social relations and quality of life is found, only a small part of the variation in quality of life can be explained by this social component. It seems that the cancer itself and the cancer treatment mainly affect the patients' quality of life and that the impact of the social environment is less significant.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2005

American Indian cancer survivors: exploring social network topology and perceived social supports.

BACKGROUND: The literature on social networks and social supports attests to the powerful influence of social relationships on health; there is a dearth of such studies with American Indians/Alaska Natives. METHOD: This exploratory study assesses the social network topology and perceived social supports received among American Indian cancer survivors and matched controls. RESULTS: Although there did not appear to be marked differences overall among cases and controls, expressive social supports (eg, companionship, moral support, encouragement, advice, and friendship) were ranked highly across each component of the network. CONCLUSIONS: The family appears to be the principal source of social supports relative to either best/closest friend or church/community.

Aged↗