Satisfaction with Social Support Received from Social Relationships in Cases of Chronic Pain: The Influence of Personal Network Characteristics in Terms of Structure, Composition and Functional Content

Abstract

The worldwide burden of chronic illnesses, constitutes a major public health concern and a serious challenge for health systems. In addition to the strategies of self-management support developed by nursing and health organizations, an individual's personal network represents a major resource of social support in the long-term. Adopting a cross-sectional design based on personal network analysis methods, the main aim of this study is to explore the relationship between satisfaction with the social support received by individuals suffering chronic pain and the structure, composition, and functional content in social support of their personal networks. We collected personal and support network data from 30 people with chronic pain (20 person's contacts (alters) for each individual (ego), 600 relationships in total). Additionally, we examined the level of satisfaction with social support in each of the 600 relationships. Bivariate and multivariate tests were performed to analyze the satisfaction with the social support received. Using cluster analysis, we established a typology of the 600 relationships under study. Results showed that higher satisfaction was associated with a balance between degree centrality and betweenness (i.e., measures of network cohesion and network modularity, respectively). Finally, new lines of research are proposed in order to broaden our understanding of this subject.

A contextual-behavioral perspective on chronic pain during the COVID-19 pandemic and future times of mandated physical distancing

“…Increasing quality social support may be crucial for addressing this population. Recent research conducted prior to the pandemic suggests that older patients and those who have experienced pain longer report less satisfaction with their social support (Fernandez-Pena, Molina, & Valero, 2020). The same study also noted that patients report better quality support among relationships that rely on both face-to-face and the phone for connection.…”

The role and attributes of social networks in the provision of support to women after stillbirth: experiences from Uganda

“…Similar results have been reported elsewhere [ 4 , 39 ] where emotional support was found to be the most prevalent among network members. It provides a sense of empathy, accompaniment and understanding [ 40 ]. This demonstrates that the quality of information shared with a pregnant mother or even after experiencing a stillbirth through emotional support is crucial.…”

“…In our case it may have facilitated the shortening of the distance between nodes especially with regards to maternal health related information. Lastly, as established elsewhere, a higher betweenness can be important in presenting quality social support to the ego through linking with other indirect relationships [ 40 ].…”

Changes in Caregiver Personal Support Networks: Gender Differences and Effects on Health (CUIDAR-SE Study)

“…This approach targets the relationships surrounding individuals in all the social environments to which they belong (e.g., family, co-workers, and neighbors) [ 21 ]. It is a methodology that is used in other social support studies [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Networks are the means by which social support is distributed and exchanged [ 25 ], and this support can take different forms (e.g., material or emotional).…”