Social support measurement and intervention : a guide for health and social scientists ; a project of the Fetzer Institute

Surgery and pharmaceuticals are not the only effective procedures we have to improve our health. The natural human tendency to care for fellow humans, to support them with social networks, has proven to be a powerful treatment as well. As a result, the areas of application for social support intervention have expanded dramatically during the past 20 years. As these areas have expanded, so too has the literature on the theory and measurement of social support. Yet, the literature has focussed on very particular areas. Investigators in the social sciences have mainly focused on the protection that social support confers in the context of stressful life events and transitions, whereas studies in the health sciences have concentrated on the effects of social networks and supports on population mortality and morbidity. Although no single theoretical framework has been widely accepted, there is consensus that both the psychological sense of support and actual expressions of support play critical roles in maintaining health and well being. This book is a state-of-the-art resource for the selection and development of strategies for social support assessment and intervention. Designed for use by behavioral and medical scientists conducting studies of physical illness, psychological adjustment, and psychiatric illness in human populations, this volume presents a broad conceptual framework addressing the role of social support in mental and physical health. The book is divided into four sections. The first provides some historical context as well as a conceptual overview of how social support might influence mental and physical health. The second discusses techniques for measuring social networks and support, and the third addresses the design of different types of support interventions. The final section presents some general comments on the volume and its implications for social support research and intervention. This resource is meant to aid researchers in understanding the conceptual criteria on which measurement and intervention decisions should be made when studying the relations between social support and health. Furthermore, the information provided on both measurement and intervention will be valuable to practitioners interested in designing and evaluating prevention and treatment initiatives. Sponsored by the Fetzer Institute as a follow up to their successful 1995 publication, Measuring Stress, this book will provide the most up to date research on the effects of social support interventions on physical and mental health. Social Support Measurement And Intervention Is A Resource For The Selection And Development Of Strategies For Social Support Assessment And Intervention. Designed For Use By Behavioral And Medical Scientists Conducting Studies Of Physical Illness, Psychological Adjustment, And Psychiatric Illness In Human Populations, This Volume Presents A Broad Conceptual Framework That Addresses The Role Of Social Support In Mental And Physical Health. This Resource Is Meant To Aid Researchers In Understanding The Conceptual Criteria On Which Measurement And Intervention Decisions Should Be Made When Studying The Relations Between Social Support And Health. The Information Provided On Both Measurement And Intervention Will Also Be Valuable To Practitioners Interested In Designing And Evaluating Prevention And Treatment Initiatives.--jacket. Part I. Theoretical And Historical Perspectives -- Social Relationships And Health / Sheldon Cohen, Benjamin H. Gottlieb, Lynn G. Underwood -- Part Ii. Social Support Measures -- Social Support Theory And Measurement / Brian Lakey, Sheldon Cohen -- Measuring Social Integration And Social Networks / Ian Brissette, Sheldon Cohen, Teresa E. Seeman -- Measuring Perceived And Received Social Support / Thomas A. Wills, Ori Shinar -- Measuring Relationship Properties And Interactions Relevant To Social Support / Harry T. Reis, Nancy Collins -- Part Iii. Social Support Interventions -- Selecting And Planning Support Interventions / Benjamin H. Gottlieb -- Support Groups / Vicki S. Helgeson, Benjamin H. Gottlieb -- One-to-one Support Interventions : Home Visitation And Mentoring / John Eckenrode, Stephen Hamilton -- Optimizing Support In The Natural Network / Carolyn E. Cutrona, Valerie Cole -- Part Iv. Implications -- Social Support Measurement And Interventions : Comments And Future Directions / Karen S. Rook, Lynn G. Underwood. Edited By Sheldon Cohen, Lynn G. Underwood, Benjamin H. Gottlieb. A Project Of The Fetzer Institute. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 10 Contributors......Page 12 Part I. Theoretical and Historical Perspectives......Page 14 1. Social Relationships and Health......Page 16 Part II. Social Support Measures......Page 40 2. Social Support Theory and Measurement......Page 42 3. Measuring Social Integration and Social Networks......Page 66 4. Measuring Perceived and Received Social Support......Page 99 5. Measuring Relationship Properties and Interactions Relevant to Social Support......Page 149 Part III. Social Support Interventions......Page 206 6. Selecting and Planning Support Interventions......Page 208 7. Support Groups......Page 234 8. One-to-One Support Interventions: Home Visitation and Mentoring......Page 259 9. Optimizing Support in the Natural Network......Page 291 Part IV. Implications......Page 322 10. Social Support Measurement and Interventions: Comments and Future Directions......Page 324 C......Page 348 E......Page 349 H......Page 350 M......Page 351 N......Page 352 P......Page 353 R......Page 354 S......Page 355 Z......Page 358 Contributors. Part I. Theoretical and Historical Perspectives. 1. Social Relationships and Health, Sheldon Cohen, Benjamin H. Gottlieb, and Lynn G. Underwood. Part II. Social Support Measures. 2. Social Support Theory and Measurement, Brian Lakey and Sheldon Cohen. 3. Measuring Social Integration and Social Networks, Ian Brissette, Sheldon Cohen, and Teresa E. Seeman. 4. Measuring Perceived and Received Social Support, Thomas A. Wills and Ori Shinar. 5. Measuring Relationship Properties and Interactions Relevant to Social Support, Harry T. Reis and Nancy Collins. Part III. Social Support Inter. The importance of social relationships in the treatment of disease and the maintenance of health and well-being has drawn the attention of scientists and practitioners across a large number of behavioral science and medical disciplines.