Social Networks, Interpersonal Social Support, and Health Outcomes: A Health Communication Perspective

Wright, Kevin B.

doi:10.3389/fcomm.2016.00010

Cited by 69 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 57 publications

(63 reference statements)

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“…In other words, the higher the level of social support, the more likely an individual would self-medicate for malaria relative to using orthodox treatment. This finding indicates that this positive type of social support can negatively influence health-seeking behaviour [ 24 ]. In the three communities, there are widespread misconceptions about orthodox treatment for malaria and other conditions [ 40 , 41 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Individual factors such as gender, age, economic status, and education have been observed to influence one’s decision to engage with particular health systems [ 23 ]. Studies have also shown that interpersonal factors, such as social networks and support that people rely on, influence access and use of particular health services [ 24 , 25 ]. Structural factors relate to institutional mechanisms put in place to ensure healthcare access.…”

Section: Conceptual Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors associated with treatment-seeking for malaria in urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana

Awuah

Asante

Sakyi

et al. 2018

Malar J

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BackgroundIn Ghana, about 3.5 million cases of malaria are recorded each year. Urban poor residents particularly have a higher risk of malaria mainly due to poor housing, low socio-economic status and poor sanitation. Alternative treatment for malaria (mainly African traditional/herbal and/or self-medication) is further compounding efforts to control the incidence of malaria in urban poor communities. This study assesses factors associated with seeking alternative treatment as the first response to malaria, relative to orthodox treatment in three urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in three urban poor localities in Accra, Ghana among individuals in their reproductive ages (15–59 years for men and 15–49 years for women). The analytic sample for the study was 707. A multinomial regression model was used to assess individual, interpersonal and structural level factors associated with treatment-seeking for malaria.ResultsOverall, 31% of the respondents sought orthodox treatment, 8% sought traditional/herbal treatment and 61% self-medicated as the first response to malaria. At the bivariate level, more males than females used traditional/herbal treatment and self-medicated for malaria. The results of the regression analysis showed that current health insurance status, perceived relative economic standing, level of social support, and locality of residence were associated with seeking alternative treatment for malaria relative to orthodox treatment.ConclusionsThe findings show that many urban poor residents in Accra self-medicate as the first response to malaria. Additionally, individuals who were not enrolled in a health insurance scheme, those who perceived they had a low economic standing, those with a high level of social support, and locality of residence were significantly associated with the use of alternative treatment for malaria. Multi-level strategies should be employed to address the use of alternative forms of treatment for malaria within the context of urban poverty.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Conceptual Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors associated with treatment-seeking for malaria in urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana

Awuah

Asante

Sakyi

et al. 2018

Malar J

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“…It is important to understand how emotional support availability and provision occurs within African American social networks, as cultural differences exist in how social network influence is conceptualized (Wright 2016). The purpose of this study was to conceptualize emotional support processes in African Americans' social support networks.…”

Section: Purposementioning

confidence: 99%

Who Can I Turn To? Emotional Support Availability in African American Social Networks

et al. 2017

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African Americans disproportionately experience psychological distress, such as feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness and are disproportionately exposed to risk factors associated with mental illness, such as racial discrimination, violence and poverty. To effectively address African Americans' mental health needs, it is imperative to identify who African Americans turn to when they experience stressors. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which emotional support is provided within African Americans' social networks and determine the characteristics of social network members who African Americans rely upon for emotional support. Results indicate that African Americans rely on social network members for spiritual and physical health support more so than emotional support. Among both male and female participants, social network members were significantly more likely to be relied upon for emotional support if they were a non-familial network contact, had a close relationship to the participant, and if they also were someone the participant spoke to about his or her physical health. Findings have implications for the development of culturally-sensitive strategies for increasing emotional support provision within African Americans' social networks.

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“…It is widely recognised that for initiating and sustaining health behaviour change, positive types of social support from friends, family and colleagues is particularly important [36]. Online (in the form of an online support community tailored to the preferences and characteristics of nurses speci cally) and face-to-face sources of social support both appear to help people maintain long-term health behaviour changes [37].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a behaviour change workplace-based intervention to improve nurses’ eating and physical activity

Power

Kiezebrink

Allan

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: There is a critical need for an intervention to improve nurse’s eating and physical activity behaviours. As nurses spend a substantial proportion of their waking hours at work, concerted efforts to deliver such interventions in the workplace is growing. This study formed part of a multiphase programme of research that aimed to systematically develop an evidence-based and theory-informed workplace intervention to promote changes in eating and physical activity among nurses. Methods: The intervention was developed iteratively, in line with Medical Research Council complex intervention guidelines. It involved four activities; (1) identifying the evidence base; (2) understanding the determinants of nurses’ eating and physical activity behaviour change through theory-based qualitative interviews and survey; (3) identifying intervention options using the Behaviour Change Wheel; and (4) specifying intervention content and implementation options using a taxonomy of behaviour change techniques.Results: Data from 13 randomised controlled trials indicated that workplace-based behaviour change interventions targeted to this population are effective in changing behaviour. The evidence base was, however, limited in quantity and quality. Nurses’ beliefs about important factors determining their eating and physical activity behaviour were identified across 16 qualitative interviews and 245 survey responses and key determinants included: environmental context and resources; behavioural regulation; emotion; beliefs about consequences; knowledge and optimism. Based on these findings, 22 behaviour change techniques suitable for targeting the identified determinants were identified and combined into a potential workplace intervention.Conclusions: An evidence-based and theory-informed intervention tailored to the target population and setting has been explicitly conceptualised using a systematic approach. The proposed intervention addresses previous evidence gaps for the user population of nurses. Further to this, such an intervention, if implemented, has the potential to impact nurses’ eating and physical activity behaviours and in turn, the health of nurses and the quality of healthcare delivery.

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Social Networks, Interpersonal Social Support, and Health Outcomes: A Health Communication Perspective

Cited by 69 publications

References 57 publications

Factors associated with treatment-seeking for malaria in urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana

Factors associated with treatment-seeking for malaria in urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana

Who Can I Turn To? Emotional Support Availability in African American Social Networks

Development of a behaviour change workplace-based intervention to improve nurses’ eating and physical activity

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