Social Support Processes and the Adaptation of Individuals With Chronic Disabilities

Abstract

In a qualitative study examining turning points in life, 15 adults with chronic disabilities (cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or attention deficit disorder) provided information about the nature and meaning of their social support experiences. The study revealed three types of psychological support linked to self-perceptions and enabling beliefs: (a) emotional support (valuing and acceptance leading to perceptions of "being believed in" and a sense of self-esteem), (b) instrumental support (guidance and provision of strategies leading to self-efficacy), and (c) cognitive support (affirmation, confirmation, and new perspectives leading to coherence in self-concept and worldview). The findings have important implications for service delivery with respect to understanding client needs for different kinds of support, especially at periods of transition, and for providing optimal experiences and creating supportive environments. In particular, the role of cognitive support deserves more attention in understanding the adaptation of individuals with chronic disabilities.

Men's experiences of giving and taking social support after their wife's spinal cord injury

“…Through these strategies, the men could change the situation, and their emotional reaction to the situation, indicating a mutual relationship between coping and social support (28). Our results are also in line with King et al (8) who described that practical and emotional support from professionals could facilitate better understanding, feelings of competence, and strategies for acting in a changed life situation. However, our results also showed that lack of emotional support soon after the SCI and lack of practical support some time after the SCI could lead to feelings of anger and avoidance of professional support.…”

“…Social support is used as an umbrella term that encompasses various types of support and is conceptualized from two perspectives: that of the support provider and that of the recipient (8). It has been shown that spouses play an important role providing social support in changed life situations (6,9).…”

“…Furthermore, this caregiving burden, as a result of their partner's dependency, can be a main source of stress (20,21). Spouses also seek some degree of balance in their new and often confusing situation, as they lack the appropriate knowledge to assume this role (8,12). Several studies indicate that spouses are not offered appropriate support, such as information and guidance, by professionals in rehabilitation, so that they can adapt to the changed life situation and support their disabled partners (10Á12, 22).…”

Aspectos Psicossociais do Câncer de Mama Feminino: Revisão da Literatura

“…Estudos têm apontado que o suporte social funciona como agente protetor frente ao risco de doenças induzidas por estresse 2 , sendo considerado um dos fatores que mais afetam em como as pessoas se adaptam a situações adversas 22 . A redução ou ausência de apoio social pode afetar o organismo, tornando o indivíduo mais suscetível ao estresse, sendo que, em momentos de extrema exigência adaptativa, o apoio social pode contribuir para manter a saúde psicoemocional dos indivíduos 25,26 .…”

Cross-cultural equivalence and psychometric proprieties of the social support scale for healthy eating habits

“…Support sources and perspectives vary, and the dimensions can involve emotional (care, appreciation), instrumental (practical, concrete care), informational (advice), and cognitive (encouragement, reinforcement given by someone) support, hindering its assessment 22,23 .…”