Social support was one of the first factors identified as factors moderating the influence of adverse life events on psychic well-being and health of human. Social support is also an important factor in the process of the immigrants' integration (as a part of adaptation process) and at the same times also a significant determinant of their health. Immigrants constitute a vulnerable social group with specific health needs and their health condition is influenced by a lot of factors. The article submits a survey of studies dealing with social support and its relation to the immigrants' mental and physic health and also to integration. The goal of this study is to describe functions of social support of immigrants, to monitor the connections between migration (and integration) and access to social support and the relation of social support to the immigrants' mental and physical health.
Methodology of research activity:The source of information consisted of publications in databased journals (Scopus, Ebsco and Medline databases) and monographs related to the topic. Conclusion: Social support has three main functions: 1. promotion of physical health, 2. promotion of mental health and 3. development of integration -as a growing into democratic society. The information obtained can help us to find ways to strengthen specific immigrant supporting system.
SUMMARYBackground and Aim: Nutrition is an important social determinant of health that influences the ageing process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional condition of a group of seniors and identify the bio-psycho-social factors that increase the risk of malnutrition.Methods: The research was conducted using a quantitative method. The standardised scales Mini Nutritional Assessment -Short Form (MNA -SF) and the Geriatric depression scale (GDS-5) were used to evaluate the nutritional condition and tendency towards depression of the tested group. This group consisted of seniors aged 75 and above living in home environment in the České Budějovice region. The group was comprised of 320 seniors, 115 men (35.9%) and 205 women (64.1%), which corresponds to the composition of the population in the chosen region of the Czech Republic. Statistical data analysis was conducted using SASD 1.4.10 and SPSS 15.0 programs. Pearson's chi-squared test (χ 2 ) and Cramér's V were chosen for statistical testing. The significance level was set at 5%.Results: The average BMI value of the seniors was 26.2 kg/m 2 (overweight). This value decreased with age. More than one third of the respondents were evaluated as being at risk of malnutrition (36.3%). Unintended weight loss was determined as the strongest risk factor of malnutrition. Seniors who had lowered their food intake stated unintended weight loss 10 times more often than respondents with no noticeable reduction in food intake. Seniors who showed signs of depression indicated weight loss three and a half times more often than respondents without depression. Meanwhile acute illness increased the risk by three times. Depression was found to be the cause and also the consequence of malnutrition.Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of overweight and obesity, a large proportion of the respondents were running the risk of malnutrition. It was concluded that the strongest risk factors for malnutrition in the respondents were unintended weight loss, depression and lowered food intake. Compared to biological factors, social and economic factors were less significant in causing malnutrition in seniors.
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