Association Between Social Support and Health Outcomes: A Meta‐analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social support and health outcome variables, and the effect size of social support on health outcomes. Meta-analysis was used to synthesize the primary studies identified initially from a computer search of the literature in Taiwan. Through preliminary screening related to the inclusion criteria, 165 dissertations and theses and 43 journal articles were included in this study. Finally, 182 primary studies, including 145 dissertations and theses and 37 journal articles, were retained after eliminating outliers of each outcome variable to achieve homogeneity. Based on Smith's four modes of health, 16 health outcome variables were used. Health status, physical symptoms and responses, psychologic symptoms and responses, and depression were categorized as clinical variables. Role function and behaviors and role burden were categorized as role-function variables. Physical adjustment, psychosocial adjustment, adjustment of life, coping behavior, and stress were categorized as adaptive variables. Health belief, health promotion behavior, quality of life, well-being, and self-actualization were categorized as eudemonistic variables. Other than physical adjustment, social support could significantly predict all health outcomes (p < 0.0001). The results provided information not only on the magnitude of the sample size required to achieve statistical significance between social support and each outcome variable as a measure of health in future studies, but also on strategies to guide further intervention programs and to evaluate their effectiveness.

Effect of interactions with humans on behaviour, mucosal immunity and upper respiratory disease of shelter cats rated as contented on arrival

“…These authors proposed that enhancing emotional wellbeing should hold the same significance as other aspects of animal care, such as nutrition and veterinary care. In humans, social support (positive human interactions) facilitates coping during times of stress and decreases susceptibility to disease (Wang et al, 2003). Even looking at a photograph of a favourite person increases IgA concentration (Matsunaga et al, 2008).…”

Trust, social support and patient type—Associations between patients perceived trust, supportive communication and patients preferences in regard to paternalism, clarification and participation of severely injured patients

“…Social support helps people to cope with stressful events and can enhance medical and mental well-being. Several studies have demonstrated that social support is effective in alleviating the effects of acute and chronic physical and mental health problems [16][17][18][19]. The concept of social support distinguishes between four types of support: (1) emotional support, (2) instrumental support, (3) informational support, and (4) appraisal support [20].…”

Testing a Model of Stress and Health Using Meta-Analytic Path Analysis

“…The direct effect of social support on health revealed that the higher the social support, the lower the health disturbance. This negative relationship finding corresponded to that of Wang et al (2003). In Wang's meta-analysis, she divided the health construct into four facets and examined the relationship between social support and various health facets.…”

“…Stress and health are multidimensional constructs (Wang, Wu, & Liu, 2003;Wheaton, 1999). As for stress, this current study combined various kinds of stress types, such as caregivers' stress, stress of military service, disaster stress, work stress, practicum stress, illness stress, stress of students' life, and so on.…”