Social networks and the coping process.

The present study examined the applicability of the so- cial network concept in the conceptualization of coping and adaptation in a social context. Several treatments of the social network concept were discussed, elaborated, and adapted for this study. Intensive interviews were conducted with ten hospitalized psychiatric patients and ten hospit- alized medical (non-psychiatric) patients concerning the pre- sence and type of life stresses, relations with network mem- bers, network size and membership, and prefered coping stylesThe data suggested that the medical Sₛ differed from the psychiatric Ss in regard to network orientation. The medical Sₛ held, by and large, positive network orientations, that is, they believed that it was advisable, worthwhile, and in some cases necessary to draw on network resources and support in time of personal crisis. The psychiatric Sₛ, on the other hand, all held negative network orientations and felt that it was dangerous, inadvisable, or useless to draw on network re- sources for support during a period of personal crisis. Con- sequently, they seemed to deal with crises on the individual level without the support of their social environment. Net-