Social support and mental health: direct, protective and compensatory effects

Social Determinants of Inter-Individual Variability and Vulnerability: The Role of Dopamine

Individuals differ in their traits and preferences, which shape their interactions, their prospects for survival and their susceptibility to diseases. These correlations are well documented, yet the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the emergence of distinct personalities and their relation to vulnerability to diseases are poorly understood. Social ties, in particular, are thought to be major modulators of personality traits and psychiatric vulnerability, yet the majority of neuroscience studies are performed on rodents in socially impoverished conditions. Rodent micro-society paradigms are therefore key experimental paradigms to understand how social life generates diversity by shaping individual traits. Dopamine circuitry is implicated at the interface between social life experiences, the expression of essential traits, and the emergence of pathologies, thus proving a possible mechanism to link these three concepts at a neuromodulatory level. Evaluating inter-individual variability in automated social testing environments shows great promise for improving our understanding of the link between social life, personality, and precision psychiatry – as well as elucidating the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms.

Romantic involvement: A protective factor for psychological health in racially-diverse young sexual minorities

Sexual minority youth experience elevated rates of internalizing disorders; it is, therefore, important to identify protective factors that decrease risk for psychological distress in this population. In this study, we examined whether involvement in a romantic relationship, a well-established protective factor for mental health among heterosexual adults, is also protective for young sexual minorities. Using eight waves of data provided by a community sample of 248 racially diverse sexual minority youth (ages 16-20 years at baseline), we assessed within-person associations between relationship involvement and psychological distress. Results from multilevel structural equation models indicated that, overall, participants reported less psychological distress at waves when they were in a relationship than when they were not. However, findings differed as a function of race/ethnicity and sexual orientation. Specifically, although relationship involvement predicted lower psychological distress for Black and gay/lesbian participants, the association was not present for White participants and, for bisexuals, relationship involvement predicted higher distress. In addition, relationship involvement reduced the negative association between victimization based on sexual minority status and psychological distress, suggesting a stress-buffering effect that did not differ based on demographic factors. Together, these findings suggest that being in a romantic relationship may promote mental health for many, but not all, young sexual minorities, highlighting the importance of attending to differences among subgroups of sexual minorities in research, theory, and efforts to reduce mental health disparities. (PsycINFO Database Record

The mental health and psychosocial adjustment of Cuban immigrants in south Florida

Given documented variation in pre-migration and migration-related experiences, Cuban immigrants in the U.S. who arrived during or subsequent to 1980 may be disadvantaged in mental health and psychosocial adjustment relative to earlier arrivals. Using wave 1 of the Physical Challenge and Health study, we compare earlier and later arriving immigrants in levels of depression, anxiety, and self-esteem and test whether adversity and social support, acculturation-related factors, or pre-migration conditions account for any differences observed among a sample of adults living in South Florida (N = 191). Bivariate analyses reveal that later arrivals are relatively disadvantaged in anxiety and self-esteem and marginally so in depression. While later arrivals do not report more adversity in the U.S., they have lower levels of family support to cope with any adversity experienced. Later arrivals are also less likely to interview in English or to have a strong American identity, and they were more likely to have arrived as adults. Relative disadvantages in anxiety and self-esteem are best explained by indicators of acculturation and family support. Policies and programs that address acculturation difficulties and increase family support could improve the health and adjustment of these and similar immigrants.

Stress buffering effects of social support on depressive symptoms in middle age: reciprocity and community mental health

Little is known about the association between depression and the buffering effects of social support in mid-life crisis. The aim of this study is to determine the buffering effects of social support on depression concerning middle-aged individuals, while also taking reciprocity and gender differences into careful consideration. A cross-sectional survey of all middle-aged individuals (40-69 years of age) using a large sample (n = 4558) from a community-living population, who resided in Rokunohe town, Aomori prefecture in northern Japan (response rate = 69.8%), was undertaken. This town recently had a lot of suicides. Two-way anova was used to analyze the effects of stressor and social support on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale scores. The authors found a stress buffering effect of social support on the depressive symptoms occurring in middle age, however, a significant difference in the stress buffer effect was only observed in male subjects. Moreover, when the authors take reciprocity into account, the effect of the buffer on depression was found not only in males receiving support but in males providing support as well. In conclusion, pertaining to males, social support reduces depressive symptoms under stressful circumstances in middle age, not only when they receive such support but also when they provide it. Therefore, these findings suggest that reciprocal social support is important for males in relation to community mental health.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and current relationship functioning among World War II ex-prisoners of war

This study examined the association of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with the quality of intimate relationships among present-day male World War II ex-prisoners of war (POWs). Ex-POWs had considerable marital stability; those with PTSD were no less likely to be in an intimate relationship. Ex-POWs in an intimate relationship who had PTSD (N=125 ) were compared with ex-POWs in a relationship who did not have PTSD (N=206). Marital functioning was within a range expected for persons without traumatic exposure. Yet, over 30% of those with PTSD reported relationship problems compared with only 11% of those without PTSD. Ex-POWs with PTSD reported poorer adjustment and communication with their partners and more difficulties with intimacy. Emotional numbing was significantly associated with relationship difficulties independent of other symptom complexes and severity of PTSD. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.

Genetic probes of three theories of maternal adjustment: I. Recent evidence and a model

Studies focusing on genetic and social influences on maternal adjustment will illumine mother's marriage, parenting, and the development of psychopathology in her children. Recent behavioral genetic research suggests mechanisms by which genetic and social influences determine psychological development and adjustment. First, heritable, personal attributes may influence individuals' relationships with their family members. These genetically influenced family patterns may amplify the effects of adverse, heritable personal attributes on adjustment. Second, influences unique to siblings may be the most important environmental determinants of adjustment. We derive three hypotheses on maternal adjustment from integrating these findings from genetic studies with other contemporary research on maternal adjustment. First, mother's marriage mediates the influence of her heritable, personal attributes on her adjustment. Second, mother's recall of how she was parented is partially genetically influenced, and both her relationships with her spouse and her child mediate the impact of these genetically influenced representations on her current adjustment. Third, characteristics of mother's spouse are important influences on difference between her adjustment and that of her sister's. These sibling-specific influences are unrelated to mother's heritable attributes. The current article develops this model, and [figure: see text] the companion article describes the Twin Mom Study that was designed to test it as well, as its first findings. Data from this study can illumine the role of family process in the expression of genetic influence and lead to specific family interventions designed to offset adverse genetic influences.

Social networks and mental health service utilisation--a literature review

Social networks have been shown to be smaller in individuals with severe mental illness than in the general population. Patients' social networks and social support may impact on their utilisation of psychiatric services. This literature review focuses on social networks, social support and mental health service use in patients with mental illness. Most studies suggest that smaller social networks or less social support are associated with more frequent hospitalisation. Qualitative aspects of the social network are also related to the risk of hospitalisation. The relationship between social networks and other types of service use is not established.

The quality of the intimate relationships of male Vietnam veterans: problems associated with posttraumatic stress disorder

This study examined the quality of the intimate relationships of male Vietnam veterans. Heterosexual couples in which the veteran had posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; n = 26) were compared to couples in which the veteran did not have PTSD (n = 24). Over 70% of the PTSD veterans and their partners reported clinically significant levels of relationship distress compared to only about 30% of the non-PTSD couples. Relationship difficulties appeared to encompass a wide range of areas, with PTSD veterans and their partners reporting that they had more problems in their relationships, more difficulties with intimacy, and had taken more steps toward separation and divorce than the non-PTSD veterans and their partners. The degree of relationship distress was correlated with the severity of veterans' PTSD symptoms, particularly symptoms of emotional numbing. Research and clinical implications of the results are discussed.

Can spouse support be accurately and reliably rated? A generalizability study of families with disruptive boys

The present study addressed two questions: Can support be accurately and reliably rated? What are the relative setting and subject effects on observed spouse support? From a sample of families with a disruptive boy, the supportive or stressing behaviors of the father towards the mother were rated by trained observers in four different standardized situations. A generalizability study was carried out to assess the relative contribution of variance due to subjects, situations, and raters on the support and stress scores. Results indicate a reliable inter-rater assessment of observed spouse support. Spouse support appears to be controlled both by personal and by situational characteristics.

Different social network and social support characteristics, nervous problems and insomnia: theoretical and methodological aspects on some results from the population study 'men born in 1914', Malmö, Sweden

A representative sample of 68-year-old men in the Swedish city of Malmö, were interviewed in detail regarding their social network, social support and social influence as a part of an extensive examination of their health status. Emphasis in this paper is put on the definition and operationalization of different social network, social support and social influence characteristics included in a tentative model. The reliability and validity of the different social network, social support and social influence indices are analyzed and discussed. The relation between the different indices and marital status and social class are analyzed implying that men living alone and men in the lowest social class have the most insufficient social network, social support and social influence. The indices were then used in an analysis of nervous problems and insomnia. Social anchorage, social participation and contact frequency, all subconcepts of social network, had independent associations with mental health in this cross-sectional study. The addition of the social network, social support and social influence indices to social class and marital status gives a more differentiated and thereby a more valid picture of the association between the psychosocial environment and this type of mental health problems.

Postgraduate medical training, stress, and marriage

In a pilot study, 20 interviews were conducted with married female interns and residents and their spouses in order to explore both positive effects of spousal support and negative effects of additional role obligations during medical training. The marital state has been shown to be related to lowered levels of stress. Past studies of medical marriage have focused on male physicians and their wives. However, marriage and parenthood impact differently on women than men, and thus on women physicians. To explore these differences, our findings are contrasted with findings on male medical students and their wives by R. Coombs. Compared to our subjects, Coombs found spouses were either housewives or held lower level jobs rather than demanding careers, and consequently our subjects experienced greater difficulty meeting demands of everyday life (cooking, cleaning, child care). Coombs' wives showed greater vicarious identification with the goals and satisfactions of the physician in-training; greater feelings of obligation to nurture, support and make sacrifices on behalf of their spouses; and less resentment toward the current system of medical training. They stressed the nurturing aspect of marital support rather than instrumental aspects. Subjects in both studies feared growing apart but while Coombs' wives feared being outgrown intellectually, our husbands were critical of their wives' narrowness of interests. Subjects in both studies believed marriage provided benefits (intimacy, support, affection, sex) but also complained of the negative impact of exhausting and emotionally draining medical training. Implications of findings for reducing the stress of medical training are discussed.

A sociological conceptualization of trauma

The epistemological difficulties with the model of 'stressful life events' are reviewed and contrasted with the epistemologies of the pioneers of stress research: Cannon, Selye, Durkheim, Freud, Bernard and Dubos. The paper focuses on the question 'What is an event?' as opposed to a fact and on the neo-Humean difficulties of relying upon explanations of events. It is demonstrated that the pioneers of stress research avoided event-explanations and relied instead (sometimes implicitly) on the notion of 'trauma'. A trauma is not just an event. The concept of trauma is linked to the ideas of arrangements and derangements of collective representations in the context of society conceived of as a cybernetic system.