Disease, social support and perceived health across the lifespan in a community representative sample

Background/Purpose: Chronic disease can significantly affect well-being, whereas social support is related to both better health and well-being (Gallant, 2003; Kruger et al, 2007). Less is known about whether facets of social support (friends; family; children; community) differ in importance throughout the life-course and differentially ameliorate the effects of disease across the life span.

Method: In a community representative sample of White and African American respondents (N =1,349), we examined the relationship between the cumulative presence of major disease (cancer, stroke, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension) and perceived general and mental/emotional well-being.  Adults from randomly selected households participated in telephone interviews (White = 67%, Black = 27%, Hispanic = 1%, multiracial 3%, Native American = 1%).  Items were drawn from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We used hierarchical regression analyses to test the relative contributions of demographic predictors (race, sex, marriage status, education in step 1), cumulative disease (step 2) and social support from friends, blood relatives, children and community members (step 3). 

Results: Across all ages, greater presence of disease predicted poorer reported general health and also mental/emotional well-being for respondents 40 and above. In contrast, social support predicted better reported general and mental/emotional well-being. Different facets of support predicted better perceived general and mental/emotional health across the lifespan: support from friends or blood relatives for young adults (< 30), support from children for middle-aged adults (31-60), and community support for adults over 60.  Social support, however, did not mediate the negative effects of chronic disease.