This research assessed the effects of received and perceived social support on the health status of 65 HIV-positive African-American mothers over time. More specifically, this study examined the effects of received and perceived social support on both subjective and objective markers of their health status. Differences in types of received and perceived social support reported by the women, along with the influence of sociodemographic and psychosocial factors on received and perceived social support, were also examined Studies based on data from a wide range of populations suggest that perceived social support better predicts health outcomes for seriously ill persons than received support. From previous research with cancer patients and HIV-positive gay males, it was expected that: (a) perceived social support would have a more positive impact on health than received social support; (b) the type of received and perceived social support would change with progression of illness; (c) sociodemographic and psychosocial factors would affect received and perceived social support. Study results supported the notion that perceived social support affects health status more positively over time than received social support. Perceived emotional support from others and support from friends and neighbors were found to be the most important factors positively affecting health status. No change was found over time between types of received or perceived social support. When controlling for each of the health status variables, sociodemographic and psychosocial factors were found to have little impact on either perceived or received social support These results indicate that further research is warranted to separate and understand the differential impact that various types of received and perceived social support may have on both subjective and objective markers of health status. Given that social support is an important coping resource, research focusing on understanding how specific social network relationships provide social support to HIV-positive African-American women could further clarify the transactional complexity of social support. Findings from this study should be helpful to social workers practicing in health care settings and contribute to the general knowledge about the effects of social support on health outcomes experienced by HIV-positive African-American mothers / acase@tulane.edu
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TULANE/oai:http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/:tulane_24904 |
| Date | January 2001 |
| Contributors | Stock, Mary Ruven (Author), Reck, Elizabeth Torre (Thesis advisor) |
| Publisher | Tulane University |
| Source Sets | Tulane University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Access requires a license to the Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) database., Copyright is in accordance with U.S. Copyright law |
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