Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The social support model for people with chronic health conditions: A proposal for future research

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Social Theory & Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Social support is an important component of health care for people with chronic health conditions. Previous research has described the types of messages created in support groups and found evidence for positive health outcomes of social support. Social support has been conceptualized in myriad ways, however, making it difficult to have a unified body of research. I propose a model to explain how the social support process works for people with chronic health conditions. I articulate what facets of the social support process need more study, and how the support environment should be conceptualized. Researchers should study a person’s entire support environment, rather than isolated support groups, as research has often been limited to in the past, taking into account the particular issues of any chronic illness.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott, S. (2009) Social capital and health: The problematic roles of social networks and social surveys. Health Sociology Review 18 (3): 297–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Acton, G.J. and Malathum, P. (2000) Basic need status and health-promoting self-care behavior in adults. Western Journal of Nursing Research 22 (7): 796–811.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, S.J., Perkins, S.M., Lane, K.A., Deer, M., Brater, D.C. and Murray, M.D. (2001) Social support and health-related quality of life in chronic heart failure patients. Quality of Life Research 10 (8): 671–682.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braithwaite, D.O., Waldron, V.R. and Finn, J. (1999) Communication of social support in computer-mediated groups for people with disabilities. Health Communication 11 (2): 123–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bunde, M., Suls, J., Martin, R. and Barnett, K. (2006) Hystersisters online: Social support and social comparison among hysterectomy patients on the internet. Annals of Behavioral Medicine 31 (3): 271–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calsyn, R.J., Winter, J.P. and Burger, G.K. (2005) The relationship between social anxiety and social support in adolescents: A test of competing causal models. Adolescence 40 (157): 103–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, K. and Wright, K.B. (2002) On-line support groups: An investigation of relationships among source credibility, dimensions of relational communication, and perceptions of emotional support. Communication Research Reports 19 (2): 183–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capodice, J.L. and Katz, A.E. (2006) What patients take without telling you: Holistic approach for BPH. World Journal of Urology 24 (4): 378–382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cienki, J.J. and Zaret, L. (2010) An internet misadventure: Bloodroot salve toxicity. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 16 (10): 1125–1127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cobb, N.K., Graham, A.L. and Abrams, D.B. (2010) Social network structure of a large online community for smoking cessation. American Journal of Public Health 100 (7): 1282–1289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colineau, N. and Paris, C. (2010) Talking about your health to strangers: Understanding the use of online social networks by patients. New Review of Hypermedia and Multimedia 16 (1/2): 141–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coulson, N.S. and Knibb, R.C. (2007) Coping with food allergy: Exploring the role of the online support group. Cyber Psychology and Behavior 10 (1): 145–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cutrona, C.E. and Suhr, J.A. (1992) Controllability of stressful events and satisfaction with spouse support behaviors. Communication Research 19 (2): 154–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Medeiros, L.M. et al (2008) Complementary and alternative remedies: An additional source of potential systemic nickel exposure. Contact Dermatitis 58 (2): 97–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DiMatteo, M.R. (2004) Social support and patient adherence to medical treatment: A meta-analysis. Health Psychology 23 (2): 207–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eichhorn, K.C. (2008) Soliciting and providing social support over the internet: An investigation of online eating disorder support groups. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 14 (1): 67–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eysenbach, G., Powell, J., Englesakis, M., Rizo, C. and Stern, A. (2004) Health related virtual communities and electronic support groups: Systematic review of the effects of online peer to peer interactions. British Medical Journal, 328(1166). http://www.bmj.com/content/328/7449/1166, accessed 11 November 2011.

  • Finfgeld-Connett, D. (2005) Clarification of social support. Journal of Nursing Scholarship 37 (1): 4–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frohlich, D. O. (2012a) Defining moments: People supersede illness. Health Communication 27 (6): 623–627.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frohlich, D. O. (2012b) Self-disclosing my ostomy to the dominant culture: An autoethnography. Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing 39 (6): 627–631.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frohlich, D. O. (in press) For people with inflammatory bowel disease, support often outweighs stigma. Gastroenterology Nursing.

  • Frohlich, D. O. and Birnbrauer, K. (in press) Discrepancies in health information found on websites discussing cures for inflammatory bowel disease, an ‘incurable’ disease. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

  • Frohlich, D. O. and Zmyslinski-Seelig, A. (2012a) How Uncover Ostomy challenges ostomy stigma, and encourages others to do the same. Paper presented at the National Communication Association 2012 convention, Orlando, Florida, November.

  • Frohlich, D. O. and Zmyslinski-Seelig, A. (2012b) The presence of social support messages on YouTube videos about inflammatory bowel disease and ostomies. Health Communication 27 (5): 421–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fukkink, R. (2011) Peer counseling in an online chat service: A content analysis of social support. Cyber Psychology, Behavior and Social Networking 14 (4): 247–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ginossar, T. (2008) Online participation: A content analysis of differences in utilization of two online cancer communities by men and women, patients and family members. Health Communication 23 (1): 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gold, J.I., Treadwell, M., Weissman, L. and Vichinsky, E. (2008) An expanded transactional stress and coping model for siblings of children with sickle cell disease: Family functioning and sibling coping, self-efficacy, and perceived social support. Child: Care, Health and Development 34 (4): 491–502.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldsmith, D.J. and Albrecht, T.L. (2011) Social support, social networks, and health. In: T.L. Thompson, R. Parrott and J.F. Nussbaum (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Health Communication: Second Edition. New York: Routledge, pp. 335–348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, R.A., Posner, S.F., Huang, E.S., Parekh, A.K. and Koh, H.K. (2013) Defining and measuring chronic conditions: Imperatives for research, policy, program, and practice. Preventing Chronic Disease 10. http://www.cdc.gov/Pcd/issues/2013/12_0239.htm, accessed 11 September 2013.

  • House, J.S., Landis, K.R. and Umberson, D. (1988) Social relationships and health. Science 241 (4865): 540–545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang, K.O. et al (2011) Measuring social support for weight loss in an internet weight loss community. Journal of Health Communication 16 (2): 198–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang, S. (2007) Disembodiment in online social interaction: Impact of online chat on social support and psychosocial well-being. Cyber Psychology and Behavior 10 (3): 475–477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lepore, S.J., Glaser, D. and Roberts, K. (2008) On the positive relation between received social support and negative affect: A test of the triage and self-esteem threat models in women with breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology 17 (12): 1210–1215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay, S., Smith, S., Bellaby, P. and Baker, R. (2009) The health impact of an online heart disease support group: A comparison of moderated versus unmoderated support. Health Education Research 24 (4): 646–654.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mo, P.K.H. and Coulson, N.S. (2008) Exploring the communication of social support within virtual communities: A content analysis of messages posted to an online HIV/AIDS support group. Cyber Psychology and Behavior 11 (3): 1–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2013) Chronic disease prevention and health promotion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/index.htm, accessed on 11 September 2013.

  • Nicholas, D.B. et al (2009) Evaluation of an online peer support network for adolescents with chronic kidney disease. Journal of Technology in Human Services 27 (1): 23–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Percy, C.A., Gibbs, T., Potter, L. and Boardman, S. (2009) Nurse‐led peer support group: Experiences of women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Journal of Advanced Nursing 65 (10): 2046–2055.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, J.L. (2009) ‘You have to be positive’. Social support processes of an online support group for men living with HIV. Communication Studies 60 (5): 526–541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qian, Y. and Mao, Y. (2010) A content analysis of online social support behaviors of overseas Chinese prenatal and postnatal women. China Media Research 6 (4): 43–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, P.M. (2000) Coping in cyberspace: The impact of internet use on the ability of HIV-positive individuals to deal with their illness. Journal of Health Communication 5 (S1): 47–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodham, K., McCabe, C. and Blake, D. (2009) Seeking support: An interpretive phenomenological analysis of an internet message board for people with complex regional pain syndrome. Psychology and Health 24 (6): 619–634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, J. (1988) Social network analysis. Sociology 22 (1): 109–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, B.R., Hawkins, R., McTavish, F., Pingree, S. and Gustafson, D.H. (2006) Effects of insightful disclosure within computer mediated support groups on women with breast cancer. Health Communication 19 (2): 133–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shoemaker, P.J., Tankard, J.W. and Lasorsa, D.L. (2004) How to Build Social Science Theories. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Shu, B.C. and Lung, F.W. (2005) The effect of support group on the mental health and quality of life for mothers with autistic children. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 49 (1): 47–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K.P. and Christakis, N.A. (2008) Social networks and health. Annual Review of Sociology 34: 405–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Streeter, C.L. and Gillespie, D.F. (1993) Social network analysis. Journal of Social Service Research 16 (1–2): 201–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svavarsdottir, E.K. (2008) Connectedness, belonging and feelings about school among healthy and chronically ill Icelandic school children. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences 22 (3): 463–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanis, M., Das, E. and Fortgens-Sillmann, M. (2011) Finding care for the caregiver? Active participation in online health forums attenuates the negative effect of caregiver strain on wellbeing. Communications: The European Journal of Communication Research 36 (1): 51–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tichon, J.G. and Shapiro, M. (2003) The process of sharing social support in cyberspace. Cyber Psychology and Behavior 6 (2): 161–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uccelli, M.M., Mohr, L.M., Battaglia, M.A., Zagami, P. and Mohr, D.C. (2004) Peer support groups in multiple sclerosis: Current effectiveness and future directions. Multiple Sclerosis 10 (1): 80–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uchino, B.N. (2006) Social support and health: A review of physiological processes potentially underlying links to disease outcomes. Journal of Behavioral Medicine 29 (4): 377–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Umberson, D. (1987) Family status and health behaviors: Social control as a dimension of social integration. Journal of Health and Social Behavior 28 (3): 306–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ussher, J., Kirsten, L., Butow, P. and Sandoval, M. (2006) What do cancer support groups provide which other supportive relationships do not? The experience of peer support groups for people with cancer. Social Science and Medicine 62 (10): 2565–2576.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westaway, M.S., Seager, J.R., Rheeder, P. and Van Zyl, D.G. (2005) The effects of social support on health, well-being and management of diabetes mellitus: A black South African perspective. Ethnicity and Health 10 (1): 73–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, A.M., Philogene, S., Fine, L. and Sinha, S. (2009) Social support and self-reported health status of older adults in the United States. American Journal of Public Health 99 (10): 1872–1878.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilks, S. and Croom, B. (2008) Perceived stress and resilience in Alzheimer’s disease caregivers: Testing moderation and mediation models of social support. Aging and Mental Health 12 (3): 357–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (2011) Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2011. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241502283_eng.pdf, accessed 10 September 2013.

  • World Health Organization. (2013) Chronic diseases. http://www.who.int/topics/noncommunicable_diseases/en/, accessed 10 September 2013.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Dr Andrew Selepak for his comments and suggestions on an earlier version of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Graduate Studies, College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, PO Box 118400, Gainesville, FL 32611-8400, USA

    Dennis Owen Frohlich

Authors
  1. Dennis Owen Frohlich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Appendix

Appendix

Figure A1

Figure A1
figure 1

The social support model for people with chronic health conditions.

Full size image

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Frohlich, D. The social support model for people with chronic health conditions: A proposal for future research. Soc Theory Health 12, 218–234 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1057/sth.2014.3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/sth.2014.3

Keywords

Search

Navigation