Key result
Higher income, status, and marriage are linked to stronger social support networks among heart patients.
Why the study?
The complex relationships between sociodemographic factors, social networks, and social support in heart patients were not fully understood.
Cross-Sectional (n=155)
Higher social status, income, and being married are associated with larger social networks and greater social support in cardiac rehabilitation patients.
Should prompt consideration of socioeconomic factors in cardiac social support; hypothesis-generating for equity-focused interventions.
Within Berkman et al.'s (2000) framework, we examined sociodemographic correlates of social networks (SN) and social support (SS) in 155 heart patients (33 women, 122 men), who completed measures of sociodemographics, SN, and SS. Hierarchical regression analyses examined the relationship between sociodemographic factors and SN; and between sociodemographic factors, SN, and SS. Higher social status and more income were related to larger, more diverse networks and more SS. Higher social status and being married were related to more SS. Being married was related to more belonging and tangible support. Results show the complex relationship between higher level social factors and specific SS functions offering areas for future interventions to increase SS in heart patients.
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Fraser et al. (2009) conducted a cross-sectional in Heart disease (n=155). Sociodemographic factors (social status, income, marital status) was evaluated on Social networks and social support. Higher social status, more income, and being married were associated with larger, more diverse social networks and greater social support among heart patients.
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