Development and preliminary evaluation of a measure of support provided to a smoker among young adults

Most studies indicate a positive association between social support and smoking cessation. However, clinic-based interventions to increase support for stopping smoking have had limited success. Prior research has emphasized the smoker's perceptions of support received for smoking cessation while less attention has focused on support persons' reports of supportive behaviors provided to a smoker. This study examined select psychometric properties of the Support Provided Measure (SPM), a self-report questionnaire designed by the investigative team to assess supportive behaviors provided to a smoker. The SPM was administered to a college sample (N=771; 67% female) of young adults, aged 18 to 24 years, who reported knowing a smoker whom they thought should quit smoking. Results indicate that, in this sample, the SPM has a two-factor structure with good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.77) and appears to assess a wide range of individual differences in the provision of support. Demographic correlates associated with SPM scores are described and suggestions for future research are offered.     

Depression,distress, burden and social support in caregivers of active versus abstinent addicts

This study focuses on the relationships between clinical, demographic, and psychological variables, such as depression, distress, burden and social support in informal caregivers of addicts. The sample included 120 informal caregivers who answered the Beck Depression Inventory, Brief Symptom Inventory, Caregiver Reaction Assessment, and the Instrumental and Expressive Social Support Scale. Results pointed to significant associations between burden and patients’ number of detoxifications, patients’ arrest due to substance abuse, distress and social support. Differences in depression, distress and burden were found between caregivers of active versus abstinent addicts. Caregiver burden was predicted by the number of patients’ arrests and the number of patients’ detoxifications at home, as well as caregivers’ social support. According to the results, caregivers of addicts would benefit from interventions that increase social support, and decrease burden, depression and distress, particularly, those who care for non-abstinent family members.     

Social support and the transtheoretical model: Relationship of social support to smoking cessation stage, decisional balance, process use, and temptation

This study investigated the relationship between social support and the transtheoretical model (TTM) constructs for smoking cessation. A sample of 190 adult smokers in a Veteran's Administration smoking cessation clinic completed measures of demographics, social support, smoking cessation stage of change, decisional balance, process use, and self-efficacy. Regression analyses revealed that social support was positively associated with both experiential and behavioral processes of change. A trend for higher social support with advancing stage was also detected. Social support was not related to temptation or decisional balance. When looking at specific sources of social support, family and peer support emerged as significant predictors, while significant-other support did not.     

Social support,attachment, and drug misuse in suicidal African American women

This study examined social support and attachment in women with and without drug misuse. Data were collected from 146 African American female suicide attempters who presented at an inner-city hospital. MANOVAs revealed that compared to their counterparts who did not misuse drugs, women who reported drug misuse had lower levels of family and friend support (Social Support Behaviours Scale), lower scores on secure attachment and higher scores on fearful and dismissive attachments (Relationship Style Questionnaire). Low-social support and less secure attachments make treatment engagement challenging and require interventions designed to enhance participation.     

Community-based parenting and family support interventions and the prevention of drug abuse

This paper presents a model for the development of a comprehensive, multilevel, preventively-oriented parenting and family support strategy to reduce family risk factors associated with drug abuse in young people. If parenting interventions are to make a significant impact at a population level on the prevalence of dysfunctional parenting practices, there is a need for an ecological approach to parenting support. Such an approach needs to target a variety of social contexts that are in a position to provide parents with access to evidence-based parenting interventions. The Triple P-Positive Parenting Program is discussed as an example of such an approach to illustrate the distinguishing features of a population level strategy. The core constructs underpinning the Triple P system include the promotion of parental self-regulation (self-sufficiency, self-efficacy, self-management, personal agency, and problem solving), through making parenting programs of adequate intensity widely available in the community through flexible delivery modalities (individual, group, telephone assisted and self-directed). The system comprises a tiered continuum of increasingly intensive parenting interventions ranging from media interventions with wide reach, to intensive behavioural family interventions with narrow reach for high-risk families where parenting problems are complicated by other factors including marital conflict, parental mood disturbance, and lack of social support. The scientific basis of the system of intervention and possible directions for future research is discussed.     

Religiosity, social support, and smoking cessation among urban African American smokers

This study examined the relationship between religiosity, social support, and gender on smoking cessation among a sample of 498 urban African American smokers using the nicotine patch. Smoking status and social support were assessed at baseline, week 4, and month 6, while religiosity was assessed only at baseline. Logistic regression analyses indicated that neither baseline religiosity, social support, nor the interaction between baseline social support and gender predicted quitting at month 6. However, a significant positive association was found between females' social support at week 4 and their week 4 (OR=1.41, CI=1.11-1.78) quitting. Additionally, a significant positive association was found between males' social support at month 6 and their month 6 quitting (OR=1.50, CI=1.05-2.15). Our findings highlight the importance of social support during an active quit attempt for African American males and females and have implications for public health and medical interventions for African American smokers.     

Technology-based support via telephone or web: A systematic review of the effects on smoking,alcohol use and gambling

A systematic review of the literature on telephone or internet-based support for smoking, alcohol use or gambling was performed. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: The design being a randomized control trail (RCT), focused on effects of telephone or web based interventions, focused on pure telephone or internet-based self-help, provided information on alcohol or tobacco consumption, or gambling behavior, as an outcome, had a follow-up period of at least 3 months, and included adults. Seventy-four relevant studies were found; 36 addressed the effect of internet interventions on alcohol consumption, 21 on smoking and 1 on gambling, 12 the effect of helplines on smoking, 2 on alcohol consumption, and 2 on gambling. Telephone helplines can have an effect on tobacco smoking, but there is no evidence of the effects for alcohol use or gambling. There are some positive findings regarding internet-based support for heavy alcohol use among U.S. college students. However, evidence on the effects of internet-based support for smoking, alcohol use or gambling are to a large extent inconsistent.     

社会支持社会保障可以提高肝硬化患者生活质量

目的:探讨社会支持、社会保障对肝硬化患者生活质量的影响,为临床护理提供依据.方法:采用生活质量测定简表(WHOQOL-BREF)和社会支持量表(SSRS)对90例肝硬化患者(肝硬化组)和90例健康人(对照组)进行生活质量及社会支持状况调查和评估.结果:肝硬化组患者生活质量和社会支持总分,较对照组显著降低(均P＜0.01);生活质量与社会支持、社会保障体系呈显著正相关(r=0.63,P＜0.01):社会支持低、社会保障差的患者其生活质量也较低.结论:在临床护理实践中应了解患者生存环境、生活质量、社会支持、社会保障状况,尽可能制定个性化的护理方案,提高患者的生活质量.     

Social support and quitting smoking for good. Is there an association? Results from the population study, "Men born in 1914," Malm?, Sweden

The objective in this study was to analyse whether there is independent association between social network, social support, social influence and quitting smoking for good. The study sample (n = 621) comprised a random half of all male Malm? residents born in 1914, of which 500 (80.5%) participated. A new instrument based on a model with carefully defined and well differentiated concepts was used to measure different aspects of social network, social support and social influence. In logistic regression analysis, emotional support (an important aspect of social support) had an association to quitting smoking for good (odds ratio 3.1, 95% confidence interval 1.9-5.4), when adjustments were made for social class, marital status (spousal support), alcohol consumption, physical activity, smoking of spouse and different medical conditions. Emotional support reflects the individuals' opportunity for care, encouragement of personal value and feelings of confidence and trust. This may contribute to a deeper understanding of mechanisms behind smoking cessation and could be of importance in the field of health promotion, but also for improvement of the long-term results of smoking cessation programs and in our clinical work with patients who smoke.     

脑卒中患者希望水平与疾病认知和社会支持的相关性分析

目的 观察评价脑卒中患者希望水平与疾病认知水平、社会支持之间的相关性.方法 选择2014年2月至2016年10月期间本院神经内科收治的脑卒中患者179例,采用希望量表(Herth Hope Index,HHI)、社会支持评定量表(Social Support Rating Scale,SSRS)和脑卒中患者疾病认知水平问卷实施评价分析.结果 脑卒中患者疾病认知水平、社会支持对希望水平均具有明显的影响,总体希望水平平均为(35.41±5.56)分,处于中等及以上水平;疾病认知水平得分(72.38±19.59)分,处于中等水平;社会支持总分为(38.35±8.19)分.结论 脑卒中患者希望水平大部分处于中、高水平状态,医护人员应鼓励患者提高疾病认知水平、并充分的发挥社会支持系统,从而有效地提高其希望水平,改善患者生存质量,让患者早日康复.     

Programming social support for smoking modification: An extention and replication

In an extension and replication of previous work on social support in worksite smoking programs, 29 employees were assigned to either a basic smoking control program or to a basic treatment plus significant other support condition. Within a multiple baseline across behaviors design, all subjects received a 6 week treatment program that focused on achieving sequential reductions in nicotine content of brand smoked, number of cigarettes smoked per day, and percent of the cigarette smoked. Both treatment conditions were equally successful in producing abstinence (verified by biochemical analyses) and in producing reductions in smoking behavior among nonabstinent subjects at both posttest and 6-month follow-up assessments. In contrast to previous research with this program, there was considerable relapse in both conditions by follow-up. Consistent with previous findings, supportive social interactions were not related to treatment outcome, but the level of negative (nonsupportive) social interactions was inversely correlated with treatment success. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.     

Physician-based smoking intervention: A rededication to a five-step strategy to smoking research

It is well established that physicians can have a significant effect on the smoking behavior of their patients. To do this, attention must be paid to putting in place multiple strategies or mechanisms in the organization where the physician practices, as well as in the mac-roenvironment (i.e., social and public policy). It has been questioned whether or not there is stagnation in the field of clinical smoking intervention requiring a rededication to basic research regarding smoking. With respect to physician-based smoking intervention, we alternatively suggest that recommitment to all phases of research is essential for moving forward physician-based smoking interventions in the rapidly changing health services and social environment. In this article, we first review the essential framework of the National Cancer Institute's research science approach to cancer prevention and control. Evidence concerning physician-based interventions is then reviewed, followed by a schematic of a comprehensive framework for thinking about the process and intervention components needed for physician-based smoking intervention to take place in the health-care setting, the impact they have, and the eventual outcome of such interventions. There is a discussion of the challenges for the delivery of smoking-cessation services presented by the rapidly changing healthy delivery system of the 1990s. Finally, we present recommendations concerning research priorities for physician-based smoking intervention and the research funding process.     

高干病房两种陪护方式的社会支持分析及护理

目的 了解高干病房患者两种陪护方式的社会支持状况,提高非亲属陪护患者的社会支持度.方法 应用社会支持评定量表对40例亲属陪护和40例非亲属陪护的高干病房患者进行评定,评定结果进行统计学分析,找出非亲属陪护病人满意度较低的原因,实施相应护理对策：加强与非亲属陪护患者、亲属及陪护的沟通,营造良好的人文治疗环境,提高患者受尊重、被支持与理解的情感体验和满意程度.结果 亲属陪护患者社会支持总分（42.67±2.80）分,客观支持得分（13.1±71.47）分,主观支持得分（22.40±1.14）分,支持利用度得分（10.86±1.07）分均显着高于非亲属陪护患者（P＜0.01）,满意度明显提高.结论 加强护理干预可提高非亲属陪护高干老年患者的社会支持及生理、心理满足率.     

Sisters in support together against substances (SISTAS): an alcohol abuse prevention group for Black women

This paper examines the existing literature for alcohol abuse prevention and treatment of African American women and offers a group counseling intervention to address the culturally specific needs of this population. The group, SISTAS: Sisters In Support Together Against Substances, includes a curriculum that focuses on key components such as spirituality, self-esteem, racial identity, social support and intimate relationships. The purpose of the group is to raise awareness of and educate members about the factors that can lead African American women from drug abuse to dependency.     

酒依赖患者生活事件及社会支持的调查研究

目的:了解酒依赖患者的生活事件及社会支持状况。方法:采用生活事件量表及社会支持评定量表,对62例酒依赖患者(观察组)和62名正常对照者(对照组)进行测评,并将测评结果加以比较。结果:观察组负性事件、独立性事件、家庭有关问题、工作学习问题及生活事件总频数和紧张值均显著高于对照组(P<0.01);而主观支持、客观支持、支持利用度评分及社会支持总分则均显著低于对照组(P<0.01)。结论:酒依赖患者所经历的生活事件较多,且社会支持不足。     

住院烧伤患者人格、社会支持与综合健康的相关性分析

目的探讨烧伤患者综合健康状况与人格、社会支持的相关性。方法使用简明烧伤健康量表、艾森克人格问卷和社会支持评定量表对101名烧伤住院患者进行横断面调查。结果情绪稳定性与综合健康呈负相关（b′=-0.216）;性格内外向性和社会支持利用度与综合健康呈正相关（b′=0.277,b′=0.198）。结论人格、社会支持水平与患者综合健康状况有关,建议实施针对性干预,提高患者的综合健康状况。     

Relationship of autonomy social support to quitting motivation in diverse smokers

Background: Research examining relationships between social support and smoking cessation has paid little attention to non-treatment seeking smokers and not considered the role of autonomy support for fostering quitting motivation. This study examined if autonomy support received from family and friends was associated with quitting motivation and making a quit attempt among diverse smokers with varying levels of quitting motivation. Demographic characteristics associated with autonomy support were explored.

Methods: Participants (N?=?312) responded to advertisements seeking smokers ‘not quite ready to quit,’ and were primarily Black, low-income and unemployed. Most (255) of them were enrolled in a clinical trial of smoking cessation induction strategies (treatment sample). An additional 57 not meeting the trial eligibility criteria of low quitting motivation were enrolled for baseline assessments only. Participants completed baseline measures of autonomy support received from friends and autonomous quitting motivation. In the treatment sample, quit attempts were assessed at six-month follow-up.

Results: Females reported higher levels than males of autonomy support from friends (p?=?0.003). Participants with a high school diploma/GED reported higher levels of support from family (p?<?0.001) and friends (p?=?0.014) than those with less education or a college/graduate degree. Both family (p?=?0.007) and friends (p?=?0.004) autonomy support scores were significantly, albeit weakly, associated with autonomous quitting motivation. Autonomy support was not associated with making a quit attempt.

Conclusions: Support from family and friends may promote autonomous reasons to quit among diverse smokers. Research is needed to assess the role of social support in the pre-quitting phases among racial and socio-economically diverse populations.

Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01188018.     

The role of social support on emotion dysregulation and Internet addiction among Chinese adolescents: A structural equation model

IntroductionInternet addiction is prevalent among adolescents and is associated with various negative outcomes. Relatively few studies examined the role of emotion dysregulation and social support on Internet addiction in this population. The present examined the association between emotion dysregulation, social support, and Internet addiction among junior secondary school students in Hong Kong. The mediating role of emotion dysregulation and Internet use on the relationship between social support and Internet addiction and the gender difference in such association were also tested.MethodA total of 862 junior secondary school students (grade 7 to 8) from 4 schools completed a cross-sectional survey.Results10.9% scored above the cut-off for Internet addiction based on the Chen Internet Addiction Scale. Results from structural equation modeling revealed that social support was negatively related to emotion dysregulation and Internet usage, which in turn, were positively related to Internet addiction. Results from multi-group analysis by gender showed that the relationship between social support and emotion dysregulation, Internet usage, and Internet addiction, and those between emotion dysregulation and Internet addiction and between Internet usage and Internet addiction were stronger among female participants.ConclusionEmotion dysregulation is a potential risk factor while social support is a potential protective factor for Internet addiction. The role of social support on emotion dysregulation and Internet addiction were stronger among female students. Gender-sensitive interventions on Internet Addiction for adolescents are warranted, such interventions should increase social support and improve emotion regulation.     

安钠咖滥用者社会支持性分析

目的：观察安钠咖滥用者的社会支持性关系。方法：采用社会支持评定量表，对安钠咖滥用者（33例）与对照组（正常农民工34例）的社会支持性相关情况对比研究。结果：相对于正常人员，安钠咖滥用者在主观支持分上有显著差异（p〈0．01），尤其在家庭成员中父母和兄弟姐妹的支持分上有显著差异（p〈0．01），而在总分、客观支持分和对支持的利用度上无差异。结论：安钠咖滥用者主观上得不到社会的尊重、支持，在心理上不被家庭成员所理解，家庭的情感体验和满意程度差。     

Associations between coping,affect, and social support among low-income African American smokers

Objective

Previous research has documented disparities in smoking cessation between African Americans and Caucasians. Many low-income African American smokers face a range of circumstances that may inhibit effective coping during quit attempts, yet previous research has not considered factors that influence coping in this population. This study examined (a) affect (positive and negative) and (b) perceived social support in association with coping strategies.

Methods

The baseline assessment of African American smokers (N = 168) enrolled in a randomized controlled trial included the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Brief COPE. A factor analysis of the Brief COPE resulted in two factors, adaptive and maladaptive strategies.

Results

Participants were mostly single (64%), women (61%), with ≥ 12 years of education (68%), and low-income. They were middle aged (M = 46.1, SD = 8.7), smoked 21.8 (SD = 13.3) cigarettes/day for 24.3 (SD = 11) years, and were moderately nicotine dependent. Results demonstrated that adaptive coping was positively correlated with positive affect and social support. Maladaptive coping was positively correlated with negative affect, and inversely related to positive affect and social support. Multivariate analyses revealed that positive affect and social support were independently associated with adaptive coping strategies. In contrast, maladaptive coping was independently associated with negative affect, but not social support.

Conclusions

Interventions that harness positive resources, such as social support and positive mood, may facilitate adaptive coping. Also, addressing negative affect among low-income African American smokers may be important to reduce maladaptive coping strategies.