Do positive or negative experiences of social support relate to current and future health? Results from the Doetinchem Cohort Study

Abstract

BackgroundCross-sectional studies have reported associations between social support and health, but prospective evidence is less conclusive. This study aims to investigate the associations of positive and negative experiences of social support with current and future lifestyle factors, biological risk factors, self-perceived health and mental health over a 10-year period.MethodsData were from 4,724 Dutch men and women aged 26-65 years who participated in the second (1993-1997) and in the third (1998-2002) or fourth (2003-2007) study round of the Doetinchem Cohort Study. Social support was measured at round two using the Social Experiences Checklist. Health was assessed by several indicators such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, overweight, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, self-perceived health and mental health. Tertiles of positive and negative experiences of social support were analysed in association with repeated measurements of prevalence and incidence of several health indicators using generalised estimating equations (GEE).ResultsPositive and negative experiences of social support were associated with prevalence and incidence of poor mental health. For the lowest tertile of positive support, odds ratios were 2.74 (95% CI 2.32-3.23) for prevalent poor mental health and 1.86 (95% CI 1.39-2.49) for incident poor mental health. For the highest tertile of negatively experienced support, odds ratios for prevalent and incident poor mental health were 3.28 (95% CI 2.78-3.87) and 1.60 (95% CI 1.21-2.12), respectively. Low levels of positive experiences of social support were also associated with low current intake of fruits and vegetables, but not with future intake. Negative experiences of social support were additionally associated with current smoking, physical inactivity, overweight and poor self-perceived health. Furthermore, high levels of negative experiences of social support were associated with future excessive alcohol consumption (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.10-1.84), physical inactivity (95% CI 1.28; 1.03-1.58) and poor self-perceived health (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.01-1.82).ConclusionsThis study showed that social support might have a beneficial effect on lifestyle and health, with negative experiences of social support affecting lifestyle and health differently from positive experiences of social support.

The effect of social support on the health of Indigenous Australians in a metropolitan community

“…Similar positive outcomes of bonded relationships have been suggested within other Indigenous groups, such as American Indians (Hill, 2006). Physical and psychological support gained from relationships is considered a positive effect of social support that is reported to enhance wellbeing and health outcomes (Croezen et al, 2012;Kim et al, 2006;Lewis et al, 2012). In light of this, the kinship relationships mentioned in this study could be considered to assist positive health outcomes.…”

“…Research investigating the link between social support and health has mainly focused on the protective (positive) effect of social support in relation to mortality, chronic disease, disability, depressive symptoms, and wellbeing (Croezen et al, 2010(Croezen et al, , 2012Iwasaki et al, 2005;Kawachi et al, 1996;Shaikh et al, 2008;Veenstra, 2000;Ziersch et al, 2009). Social support also affects health behaviours such as physical exercise and smoking (Croezen et al, 2012;Hunt et al, 2008;Shaikh et al, 2008;Uchino, 2006;Weitzman and Kawachi, 2000).…”

“…Social support also affects health behaviours such as physical exercise and smoking (Croezen et al, 2012;Hunt et al, 2008;Shaikh et al, 2008;Uchino, 2006;Weitzman and Kawachi, 2000). In some circumstances, social support can have a negative effect (Croezen et al, 2012;Richmond and Ross, 2008), and in such instances, high levels of social support do not have a protective effect on health (Richmond et al, 2007). The potential for negative consequences from social support becomes more apparent in populations where stressful circumstances such as poverty or discrimination are prominent (Richmond and Ross, 2008).…”

The Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Lifestyle in Middle-Aged Females of Ahvaz, Iran

“…There are several studies showing that social support is an important factor affecting health promoting behaviors (18,19). Croezen et al (20) showed that social support was significantly associated with lifestyle. In this cohort study, social support was divided into two categories of positive and negative experiences of support, which both experiences showed significant relationship with lifestyle.…”

Measuring the impact of social network and social support on health and quality of the life of the elderly

“…9 -Socijalna podrška je takođe merena i korišćenjem Liste za proveru socijalnih iskustava (Social Experiences Checklist). 10 -Owner Pet Relationship scale sa 15 aitema i brojne druge.…”