Social Integration of People with Serious Mental Illness: Network Transactions and Satisfaction

Abstract

Social integration involves a process through which an individual establishes and maintains meaningful interpersonal relationships characterized by mutual exchange with community members in nonclinical settings. Using self-report data from a probability sample (n=252) of supportive independent housing residents, transactional (i.e., support exchanges) characteristics of social networks, paying particular attention to reciprocation of exchanges between residents and their network members, were analyzed. The study also examined the extent to which transactional characteristics are related to satisfaction with social relations. Findings indicated considerable reciprocity in social relationships. Controlling for sociodemographic variables and network structure characteristics, mutual exchanges of tangible and problem-solving support were positively associated with network satisfaction. Results suggest that supported socialization services aimed at network and resource development with this population could facilitate more frequent exchanges of tangible resources and problem-solving opportunities between consumers and network members, which, in turn, might promote social integration.

What Factors Influence the Decision to Share Suicidal Thoughts? A Multilevel Social Network Analysis of Disclosure Among Individuals with Serious Mental Illness

“…Participants predominantly identified as non‐Hispanic White or Latino. The mean psychiatric symptom severity score of nearly 37 expectedly fell above a clinical cutoff of 30 found to distinguish between groups with and without known psychiatric disability (Boothroyd & Chen, ) and is comparable to studies with a similar population (e.g., Boothroyd & Chen, ; Guada, Brekke, Floyd, & Barbour, ; Wong, Matejkowski, & Lee, ). In terms of relational tie characteristics, family members occupied the largest segment of social networks (44%), with friends (26%) and, to a lesser degree, mental health providers (17%), largely constituting the remainder of the network space.…”

The Phenomenon of Social Isolation in the Severely Mentally Ill

“…() viewed social integration in the context of opportunities offered by the environment and capacities possessed by the individual with mental illness. It is understood to be an important component of community integration and refers to the engagement with a social network that includes reciprocal social relationships with others in the community in nonclinical settings (Wong, Matejkowski, & Lee, ). Ware et al.…”

Sources of social support and community integration among persons with serious mental illnesses in Korea

“…Social support is conducive to promoting the quality of life of persons with SMI (Rüesch et al, 2004;Wong et al, 2011). Persons in recovery may procure emotional approval, socializing support, tangible and material resources, as well as improve their problem-solving skills through interacting with individuals in their social circles (Nelson et al, 1992).…”