A higher number of social support resources, particularly economic support and companionship, was associated with a lower prevalence of depression, circulatory problems, and poor general health.
Cohort (n=5,053)
Yes
Does the availability of various types of social support improve health outcomes in a general adult population?
Having multiple types of social support, particularly economic support and companionship, is associated with fewer health problems including circulatory issues.
AIMS: Our understanding of the relative importance of various types of social support is still limited. This study examines the overall and relative importance of various types of social support for health problems in a general population. The support resources focused on differ in character and represent companionship and emotional, instrumental, and informational types of social support. The health problems are depression, circulatory problems, and self-rated general health. METHODS: The logistic regression analyses are based on a Swedish nationally representative sample of 5,053 adults, aged 18-75, interviewed in the Level of Living Survey in 2000. Panel data from the earlier interview wave in 1991 were also used. RESULTS: The number of support resources was associated with all the health problems studied. The availability of economic support was important relative to the other support resources (or of similar importance), irrespective of marital status, social class, and own economic situation. The associations hold when earlier health status was controlled for. Having someone to talk to about personal problems and having someone for company were relevant, especially the latter. This support resource demonstrated an association with all health problems, which remains when the other support resources and earlier health status are taken into consideration. CONCLUSIONS: In the Swedish population, the number of support resources was linked to health problems, indicating the usefulness of a diverse resource pool. The multidimensional approach revealed that economic support, company, and, to a more limited extent, the opportunity to discuss personal problems were most important.
Östberg et al. (Mon,) conducted a cohort in Health problems (depression, circulatory problems, and self-rated general health) (n=5,053). Social support resources (economic, companionship, emotional) vs. Fewer or no support resources was evaluated on Depression, circulatory problems, and self-rated general health. A higher number of social support resources, particularly economic support and companionship, was associated with a lower prevalence of depression, circulatory problems, and poor general health.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: