Discussion networks, physician visits, and non-conventional medicine: Probing the relational correlates of health care utilization

Schafer, Markus H.

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.03.031

Cited by 29 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…We also find that people are especially inclined to rely on partners and mothers (but not fathers) to discuss health relative to other types of ties. The role of gender ideology and the culture of motherhood in maintaining a safety net for adult children with health problems has been observed in previous research (Cook, 1988), as has the importance of the institution of marriage in structuring support obligations of spouses (Idler, Boulifard, & Contrada, 2012; Schafer, 2013; Umberson, 1992). Perhaps more unexpectedly, however, individuals experiencing a mental illness are no more likely to talk about their health problems to medical or mental health professionals than to siblings, friends, fathers, and neighbors, illustrating the critical role of the lay support system in managing mental illness (Swindle, Heller, & Pescosolido, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…Determining whether individuals benefit from connecting to different kinds of health discussion partners among a larger set of latent ties lies at the heart of our concern. Surprisingly little is known about the process of social network activation for health problems, and looking to the advantages or disadvantages, if any, of engaging in targeted discussions has rarely been examined empirically (Perry & Pescosolido, 2010; Shafer, 2013). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This selective activation of ties during an acute health crisis represents a potentially influential but largely overlooked coping mechanism (Pescosolido, 1991, 1992; Wellman, 2000; Wellman & Wortley, 1989). Only very recently have targeted discussions on topics such as health services utilization, compliance, behaviors, and beliefs been linked empirically to health outcomes (Abbott et al, 2012; Perry & Pescosolido, 2010; Schafer, 2013; York Cornwell & Waite, 2012). Yet, the extent to which individuals with health problems are able to secure access – through activation of certain ties but not others – to information, treatment options, or support that facilitate recovery may, in part, explain why social network characteristics matter for wellbeing.…”

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this literature, social interaction is framed, often implicitly, as a central mechanism linking social networks and health. Resources critical for preventing or recovering from illness flow through health discussion networks: advice, information, emotional support, affirmation and belonging, and attitudes about how to define and respond to health problems (Abbott, Bettger, Hanlon, & Hirschman, 2012; Schafer, 2013). Yet, the utility of social network resources depends on successful activation of ties that can provide access to relevant information or support (Lin, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social network activation: The role of health discussion partners in recovery from mental illness

Perry

Pescosolido

2015

Social Science & Medicine

308

202

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In response to health problems, individuals may strategically activate their social network ties to help manage crisis and uncertainty. While it is well-established that social relationships provide a crucial safety net, little is known about who is chosen to help during an episode of illness. Guided by the Network Episode Model, two aspects of consulting others in the face of mental illness are considered. First, we ask who activates ties, and what kinds of ties and networks they attempt to leverage for discussing health matters. Second, we ask about the utility of activating health-focused network ties. Specifically, we examine the consequences of network activation at time of entry into treatment for individuals' quality of life, social satisfaction, ability to perform social roles, and mental health functioning nearly one year later. Using interview data from the longitudinal Indianapolis Network Mental Health Study (INMHS, N = 171), we focus on a sample of new patients with serious mental illness and a group with less severe disorders who are experiencing their first contact with the mental health treatment system. Three findings stand out. First, our results reveal the nature of agency in illness response. Whether under a rational choice or habitus logic, individuals appear to evaluate support needs, identifying the best possible matches among a larger group of potential health discussants. These include members of the core network and those with prior mental health experiences. Second, selective activation processes have implications for recovery. Those who secure adequate network resources report better outcomes than those who injudiciously activate network ties. Individuals who activate weaker relationships and those who are unsupportive of medical care experience poorer functioning, limited success in fulfilling social roles, and lower social satisfaction and quality of life later on. Third, the evidence suggests that social networks matter above and beyond the influence of any particular individual or relationship. People whose networks can be characterized as having a pro-medical culture report better recovery outcomes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social network activation: The role of health discussion partners in recovery from mental illness

Perry

Pescosolido

2015

Social Science & Medicine

308

202

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“…The NSHAP collected ego-centric social network data with a module that allows each respondent to identify the socio-demographic information of their network members and the relationships among them [2]. Using the NSHAP data, researchers have found that some types of social networks were associated with various health-related dimensions such as subjective well-being [3], depressive symptoms [4], hypertension [5], health-related behaviors [6], health-care utilization [7], and others.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Korean social life, health and aging project-health examination cohort

Lee

Kim

et al. 2014

Epidemiol Health

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The Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (KSHAP) is a population-based longitudinal study of health determinants among elderly Koreans. The target population of the KSHAP are people aged 60 years or older and their spouses living in a rural community of Korea. A complete enumeration survey was conducted in the first wave of the KSHAP on 94.7% (814 of 860) of the target population between December 2011 and July 2012. The KSHAP-Health Examination (KSHAP-HE) cohort consists of 698 people who completed additional health examinations at a public health center (n=533) or at their home (n=165). Face-to-face questionnaires were used to interview participants on their demographics, social network characteristics, medical history, health behaviors, cognitive function, and depression symptoms. Health center examinations included anthropometric measures, body impedance analysis, resting blood pressure measurement, radial artery tonometry, bone densitometry, the timed up-and-go test, and fasting blood analysis. However, only anthropometric measures, blood pressure measurement, and non-fasting blood analysis were available for home health examinations. Collaboration is encouraged and access to the KSHAP baseline data will be available via the website of the Korean Social Science Data Archive (http://www.kossda.or.kr).

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Social Networks in Later Life

Cornwell

Schafer

2016

Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences

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Discussion networks, physician visits, and non-conventional medicine: Probing the relational correlates of health care utilization

Cited by 29 publications

References 28 publications

Social network activation: The role of health discussion partners in recovery from mental illness

Social network activation: The role of health discussion partners in recovery from mental illness

The Korean social life, health and aging project-health examination cohort

Social Networks in Later Life

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