Social networks, social support, personal empowerment, and the adaptation of psychiatric consumers/survivors: Path analytic models

Author(s): Nelson, G.

Journal/Book: Soc Sci Med. 1996; 43: The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England OX5 1GB. Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd. 1743-1754.

Abstract: In this paper, we examine the relationships between social network characteristics, personal empowerment, social support, and adaptation of psychiatric consumer/survivors. Using path model analyses, we found that: (1) personal empowerment had statistically significant direct effects on positive affect, meaningful activity, and negative affect; (2) positive social support mediated the relationship between the proportion of women in consumer/survivors' networks and positive affect and meaningful activity; and (3) negative social interaction mediated the relationship between consumer/survivors' gender and negative affect. The results point out the importance of gender effects in social support processes, the differential association between type of social interaction (positive vs negative) and adaptation indices (positive vs negative), and the importance of personal empowerment for consumer/survivors' adaptation. We discuss the findings in terms of their implications for further research and community-based housing programmes for psychiatric consumer/survivors.

Note: Article Hall GB, Univ Waterloo, Sch Urban & Reg Planning, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, CANADA

Keyword(s): social support; community adaptation; path model; social networks; gender; CASE-MANAGEMENT; MENTALLY-ILL; GENDER; CARE; DETERMINANTS; PSYCHOLOGY; PATIENT; ILLNESS; PEOPLE; STRESS

Zurück | Weiter