Approximately half of social work practice involves supportive services for persons with acute and chronic conditions. To examine how services could be more effective this study examines the link between mental disorders and social support. Bivariate techniques were used with a weighted sample of 5875 adults ages 15-54 from the National Comorbidity Survey (1990-92). Indexes were developed for anxiety, mood and substance abuse disorders and for positive and negative social support from spouses, relatives and friends. Negative social support was associated with higher rates of anxiety (p<.02) and mood (p<.02) disorders in all racial/ethnic and gender subgroups. Hispanic females were the most affected by the presence of negative social support. Positive social support was associated with lower rates of anxiety disorders only in whites (p<.001) and with lower mood disorders in all subgroups (p<.05) except Hispanic males. Positive social support was not as strong a predictor of mental disorders as was the presence of negative social support. A dose-response relationship was found between high social support as measured by an index that combined positive and negative support and low rates of anxiety and mood disorders in all subgroups (p<.01) except Hispanic males. Only weak associations were found between substance abuse disorders and the various measures of social support. These findings highlight the importance of support services that reduce negative as well as increase positive social support. Hispanic females appeared to be the most vulnerable to the presence of negative support, especially related to the occurrence of anxiety and mood disorders.
Learning Objectives: 1. Understand how categories of major mental disorders are associated with social support. 2. Analyze the impact of negative as well as positive social support from spouses, relatives and friends. 3. Discuss applications of this knowledge in terms of social work support services that may be offered to individuals and families that are affected by mental illness.
Keywords: Mental Disorders, Social Services
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.