The Role of Social Network and Support in Mental Health Service Use: Findings From the Baltimore ECA Study

Abstract

Objective A significant number of people with mental illness do not use mental health services to receive treatment for their symptoms. This study examined the hypothesis that social network and social support affect mental health service use. Methods Data were from the Baltimore cohort of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area study, a prospective cohort study that gathered data over four time points. This study examined data gathered in 1993–1996 (N=1,920) and 2004–2005 (N=1,071). The study examined indicators of social network and social support in relation to four types of service use (general medical, mental health within general medical, specialty psychiatric, and other human services) with multivariate logistic regression. Examples of other human services include a self-help group or crisis center for help with any psychological problem. Weighted generalized estimating equations were used for the analyses. Results Among persons with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or alcohol use disorder in the past year or psychological distress in the past few weeks, general medical service use was reduced when the frequency of contact with relatives or friends occurred less than daily, but it was increased by about 40% when there was a higher than median level of spousal support. In contrast, receiving general medical services for mental health problems was reduced by about 50% when there was a higher than median level of social support from relatives. Specialty psychiatric service use was reduced when there was regular contact with six or more relatives and there was a higher than median level of social support from friends and relatives. None of the social network or social support measures were significantly (p≤.01) associated with use of other human services. Conclusions Increased contact with the social network and higher levels of social support were associated with greater use of general medical services. However, more social support was associated with use of fewer services within the specialty psychiatric sector.

Spiritual Well-Being of People with Psychiatric Disabilities: The Role of Religious Attendance, Social Network Size and Sense of Control

“…Social network is an objective concept corresponding to the number and frequency of contacts with support networks, which can be measured by the number of friends (or relatives) that participants had kept in touch with (Hintikka et al 2000;Maulik et al 2009). Participants answered the question: ''How many people do you count as your friends?''…”

“…with a five-point scale, ranging from ''None'' to ''over 5'' (Becker et al 2000). Maulik et al (2009) discussed that a large social network size tends to provide more information about available social services so it encourages help seeking. Social network size and support are positively associated with psychological and spiritual well-being (Bussema and Bussema 2007).…”

The Effect of Social Networks and Social Support on Mental Health Services Use, Following a Life Event, among the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area Cohort

“…Previous research 15 reported on the effect of social networks and social support on different mental health services. Life events were not included in that study.…”

Domínio Relações Sociais da Qualidade de Vida: Um Foco de Intervenção em Pessoas com Doenças do Humor

“…Possibilita, desta forma, a percepção do impacto negativo que a doença do humor pode exercer no Domínio Relações Sociais tendo em conta a comparação entre os sujeitos com doença e os sujeitos da população geral. De facto, o apoio social e as relações pessoais têm sido merecedores de atenção da comunidade cientí ca, porque os achados sugerem a sua forte in uência na saúde das pessoas em termos preventivos, promovendo a saúde e a adaptação (Stroebe & Stroebe, 1995), na melhoria da sintomatologia depressiva e redução do número de internamentos (Huang et al, 2008) e na utilização de menos serviços dentro da especialidade médica de psiquiatria por pessoas com depressão, perturbação de ansiedade generalizada, perturbação de pânico e alcoolismo (Maulik, Eaton, Catherine, & Bradshaw, 2009). …”