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Social support: a conceptual analysis
Author(s) -
Langford Catherine Penny Hinson,
Bowsher Juanita,
Maloney Joseph P.,
Lillis Patricia P.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of advanced nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.948
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1365-2648
pISSN - 0309-2402
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2648.1997.1997025095.x
Subject(s) - social support , psychology , social competence , social psychology , coping (psychology) , rubric , applied psychology , clinical psychology , social change , mathematics education , economics , economic growth
Using the methodology of Walker and Avant, the purpose of this paper was to identify the most frequently used theoretical and operational definitions of social support. A positive relationship between social support and health is generally accepted in the literature. However, the set of dimensions used to define social support is inconsistent. In addition, few measurement tools have established reliability and validity. Findings from this conceptual analysis suggested four of the most frequently used defining attributes of social support: emotional, instrumental, informational, and appraisal. Social network, social embeddedness, and social climate were identified as antecedents of social support. Social support consequences were subsumed under the general rubric of positive health states. Examples were personal competence, health maintenance behaviours, perceived control, sense of stability, recognition of self‐worth, positive affect, psychological well‐being, and decreased anxiety and depression. Recommendations for future research were made.