Social support and the impact of job loss in dislocated blue-collar workers.

Direct and buffering effects of social support were investigated for 41 persons who worked in the timber industry an average of 14 yrs before losing their job because of layoffs. Severity of financial concerns and length of unemployment were assessed as stressors. Locus of control, self-esteem, depression, and global psychological symptoms (Brief Symptom Inventory) were examined as stress symptoms. The 6 types of support measured by the Social Provisions Scale (C. E. Cutrona and D. W. Russell, 1987, 1990) were tested for direct effects on stress symptoms and for interaction (buffering) effects with the stressors in predicting symptoms. Financial concerns and several types of support had strong direct effects on symptoms. Significant buffering effects were found for reassurance of worth support, which provides persons with the sense that others acknowledge their competencies and abilities. Strategies to increase this type of support are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Satisfaction with a new job after unemployment: Consequences of job loss for older professionals.

Participants were surveyed after joining a self-help group for unemployed professionals over the age of 40 and again 1 year later. A hidden cost of job loss, especially for older workers, may be decreased satisfaction with the new job obtained after a period of unemployment. Of the 24 initially unemployed participants who sought jobs, 1 year later 16 were reemployed, and 8 were still seeking jobs. The 16 reemployed participants indicated significantly less satisfaction in their new positions, compared to the ones held previously, with regard to pay and benefits. There was no change in satisfaction with co-workers. Satisfaction with supervision, the nature of the work, and prospects for promotion had increased. Positive self-esteem and internal locus of control at the initial survey were positively correlated with job satisfaction after reemployment. Contrary to expectations, age was also positively correlated with satisfaction in the new job. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social support sources among older women with heart failure: continuity versus loss over time

In the mosquito Culex pipiens one of the major resistance mechanisms to organophosphorous pesticides (OPs) is increased detoxification of insecticide. This resistance is the consequence of overproduction of two types of esterases, esterases A and B, coded at two loci, Est-3 (A esterase) and Est-2 (B esterase). We have analysed the genomic structure of these genes in different strains resistant to OPs and have attempted to characterize the different types of mutations leading to the resistant phenotypes. It is shown that, concerning the more frequent resistant phenotypes, mutations leading to resistance are of two main types. First, overproduction of one A esterase present in Southern France results from a regulatory mechanism. The second type of mutation is gene amplification which involves events that have initially generated the duplication of both the A and B esterase or only the B esterase locus. We report the point that the most frequent esterase overproductions are the results of eight different mutations and that, given the range of distribution of these genotypes, mutation leading to an efficient resistance gene is one of the most limiting factors for the evolution toward resistance in Culex pipiens.     

Two years after a job loss: Long-term impact of the JOBS program on reemployment and mental health.

Analyses of data from a randomized field experiment with 1,801 participants (A. D. Vinokur et al, see record 1996-09746-001) examined the long-term effects of a job-search workshop (JOBS) and the independent effects of demographic and psychological factors on reemployment and mental health outcomes. Two years after the JOBS workshop, the experimental group had significantly higher levels of reemployment and monthly income, lower levels of depressive symptoms, lower likelihood of experiencing a major depressive episode in the last year, and better role and emotional functioning compared with the control group. Baseline job-search motivation and sense of mastery had both direct and interactive effects (with experimental condition) on reemployment and mental health outcomes, respectively. The interactive effects demonstrated larger benefits for those who had initial low levels of job-search motivation and mastery. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social support: some pragmatic implications for health care professionals

BACKGROUND: Depression affects a significant proportion of the expanding elderly population in the UK. Reports of a poorer prognosis for older than for younger adult patients have been challenged by recent papers. METHOD: The casenotes of 56 adults (mean age 47.8 years) and 54 elderly (mean age 72.9 years) patients with primary depression were assessed one year after receiving hospital treatment. Outcome measures were compared with earlier reported findings and factors possibly influencing outcome were explored. RESULTS: The pattern of outcome in both age groups was broadly similar, thus: adults v. elderly: recovered 44.6% v. 44.4%; relapsed and recovered 23.2% v. 24%; residual symptoms 19.6% v. 13% and chronic depression 7.1% v. 5.5%. In the adults there were two natural deaths and one suicide. In the elderly there were two cases of dementia and five natural deaths, which was double the expected death rate. Predictors of poor outcome were melancholic depression in adults and longer duration of illness at intake and an increasing number of previous episodes of affective disorder in the elderly. CONCLUSION: The outcome of treated depressive illnesses appears similar in elderly and adult patients. Associated physical ill health did not adversely affect outcome in the elderly group.     

Effects of anticipated job loss on employee behavior.

Compared the behavior (i.e., productivity, absenteeism, and lateness) of 100 employees who knew that they were to be laid off or not laid off. No significant changes in the absenteeism, lateness, or production were found in either group during the 3-mo period. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparative effects of personal and situational influences on job outcomes of new professionals.

We investigated the relative and combined effects of personal and situational variables on job outcomes of new professionals. The personal variables were cognitive ability, socioeconomic status, and career goals; the situational variables were job feedback, autonomy, and job context. Data were collected at two times from 280 newly hired, entry-level accountants at "Big Eight" firms. Both personal and situational variables predict job outcomes, but their relative influence depends on the outcome measure. Situational variables account for the most variance in job performance, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment; personal variables account for the most variance in promotability, internal work motivation, and turnover. The findings indicate that job performance does not take care of itself by selecting bright people, but requires constant vigilance and effective systems. The results also suggest that a given result can be achieved through a variety of behavioral science interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A model of the net effect of job loss on violence.

The authors extend frustration–aggression theory to hypothesize that increasing frequency of layoffs has countervailing influences on violence depending on how many people lose jobs compared to how many fear job loss. The authors offer a model that estimates the net effect of these processes on the incidence of violence in a community. The model specifies a parabolic function in which small increases in layoffs are associated with increased incidence of violence, but large increases are associated with reduced incidence. The model was tested with time-series methods by using weekly data from San Francisco. The independent variable was initial claims for unemployment compensation; the dependent variable was civil commitments for behavior that is dangerous to others. The model fit the data for both men and women. Implications of the model for economic policy and the provision of preventive services are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social support and physical disability in older people after hospitalization: A prospective study.

This prospective study examined the effects of social support on physical disability in 269 older people (aged 65–97 yrs). Hospital monitoring identified longitudinal study participants who were admitted for hip fracture, stroke, or myocardial infarction. Interviews before the illness and at 6 wks and 6 mo after admission assessed social support and physical disability; medical records indicated illness severity and comorbidity. The number of emotional support providers and the adequacy of task support were higher after hospitalization. Medical factors and premorbid emotional support predicted disability at 6 wks; not needing support was associated with less disability than needing and receiving adequate support. Task support adequacy at 6 wks predicted less disability at 6 mo. The results reveal a dynamic relationship between social support and recovery. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social network and marital support as mediators and moderators of the impact of stress and depression on parental behavior.

Structural equation modeling was used with a sample of 451 2-parent families to test an elaboration of J. Belsky's (1984) model of the determinants of parental behavior. Results largely support the model. Economic pressure disrupted parenting by increasing depression and undermining access to spouse support. Spouse support had both a direct effect on parenting and an indirect influence through depression. For mothers, spouse support moderated the impact of economic strain on parenting by reducing the disruptive impact of depression on parental behavior. Social network support only influenced parenting indirectly through depression. There was no support for the idea that social network support serves to buffer parental behavior against the adverse consequences of economic strain, nor was there evidence that it can compensate for low spouse support. The findings indicated, however, that spouse support is a more powerful determinant of quality of parenting when social network support is low. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The interaction of social skill and organizational support on job performance.

The present study examined the moderating effect of perceived organizational support (POS) on the relationship between social skill and supervisor-rated job performance. On the basis of regulatory and activation models of behavior, the authors argue that low-POS environments activate social skill because they reflect situations in which interpersonal acuity is required to demonstrate effective job performance. Accordingly, the authors hypothesize that social skill is more strongly related to performance among workers reporting low rather than high levels of organizational support. Results of hierarchical moderated multiple regression analyses on data gathered from 2 samples support the hypothesis. These results suggest that the relevance of social skill to job performance may be dependent on contextual cues. Implications for substantive research, strengths and limitations, and directions for future research are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social support, support groups, and the cancer patient.

Surveys the literature on social support and cancer and reports results from an empirical investigation of the factors that led cancer patients to join social support groups. Questionnaire data from 666 21–89 yr old cancer patients show that although most Ss received high levels of social support following cancer, some experienced isolated instances of rejection or did not receive the type of support they wanted from family, friends, and medical caregivers. This appeared to be 1 impetus for joining cancer support groups, although Ss reporting a lack of social support were not generally more likely to join support groups than were other Ss. The Profile of Mood States suggested that attenders were somewhat less likely to be depressed than were nonattenders. In addition, cancer support group attenders were more likely to be White middle-class females, to report having more problems, and to use social support resources of all kinds than were nonattenders. Implications for outreach to cancer patients are discussed, and it is concluded that while support groups may be beneficial for many cancer patients, current programs tend to be used largely by the same segment of the population that uses traditional mental health services. (81 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social support as a mediator in the relation between functional status and quality of life in older adults.

The relations among physical functioning, social support, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction were examined in a national sample of 4,734 adults age 65 and older. Regression analyses were used to examine the relative importance of objective and subjective support measures in understanding the relation between physical impairment and quality of life. Impairment was associated with fewer friendship contacts, fewer family contacts, less perceived belonging support, and less perceived tangible aid, but only measures of perceived support predicted depressive symptomatology. A structural equation modeling approach was then used to explore the mediational role of perceived social support in the relation between impairment and quality of life variables. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that lower reported social support is an important reason for decreases in life satisfaction and increases in depressive symptoms found among older adult populations. Implications for understanding the role of social support in attenuating the effects of physical disability in older adults are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Collaboration and resource exchange between professionals and natural support systems.

A number of social researchers have documented how extensively Americans utilize informal helping resources in dealing with personal problems, and interest in the preventative potential of informal social support has been spurred by concurrent research in epidemiology. A definition and preliminary typology of natural support systems are offered as a basis for discussion of their role in the delivery of human services. Opportunities for collaboration and an exchange of resources between professionals and members of informal helping networks are explored, and several ways in which professionals can identify and help to create natural support systems in the community are indicated. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social support and physical health.

Reviews the literature on social support (SS) and physical health (PH), focusing on studies of illness onset; stress; utilization of health services; adherence to medical regimens; and recovery, rehabilitation, and adaptation to illness among human adults. Only studies with outcome measures of PH are considered. It is suggested that evidence supporting a direct link between SS and PH is more modest than previously claimed. More complex models including clearer multidimensional conceptualizations of SS are suggested for research. A framework delineating stages at which SS can mediate PH outcomes is presented. It is concluded that SS includes personality as well as environmental variables. PH as a stage phenomenon and learned helplessness in PH outcomes are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social support and the course of bipolar disorder.

The current study prospectively examined the impact of social support on symptom severity and recovery from episodes in bipolar disorder, both as a direct influence and as a buffer of life events. Fifty-nine individuals with Bipolar I disorder were followed longitudinally with monthly symptom severity interviews. Social support was measured by the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List and the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction, and life events were assessed using the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule. Individuals with low social support took longer to recover from episodes and were more symptomatic across a 6-month follow-up. Results suggest a polarity-specific effect, in that social support influences depression but not mania. Discussion focuses on theoretical implications of a series of polarity-specific findings within the field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social support and the effectiveness of group therapy.

Collected self-report data from 37 pretest clients and 26 of the same clients at posttest who participated in 6 counseling center therapy groups. Questionnaires assessed 6 functionally different types of social support provided from 2 sources, therapy group members vs persons outside the group, together with pre- and posttest levels of 3 distress symptoms, which were depression, self-esteem, and psychological symptoms of stress. Significant improvement in symptoms was noted during the 8-wk interventions, and this improvement was related to the availability of social support, depending on the type and source of support. In general, support from sources outside the therapy group appeared to have the most impact. Levels of certain types of support differed in groups depending on whether or not the group was composed of members with a common presenting concern. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social support, life events, and stress as modifiers of adjustment to bereavement by older adults.

As part of a larger panel study, interviews were obtained from 3 samples of older adults: 45 persons who had recently lost a spouse, 40 who had lost a parent or child, and 45 who were not bereaved. Assessments were conducted before and after the deaths. In the widowed sample, health remained quite stable, but depression increased sharply, then remained elevated. Changes were minimal in the sample who had lost a parent or child and in the nonbereaved sample. Multiple regression procedures were used to identify factors that contribute to depression and health 9 months after the spouse's death. Postbereavement depression was associated with higher prebereavement depression, higher financial pressures, higher global stress, fewer new interests, and lower social support. Health was a function of prebereavement health, new interests, financial pressures, and global stress. In general, life events and resources had stronger effects in the widowed sample than in the comparison samples. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The impact of federal support on higher education.

A major university today, public or private, engaged in graduate teaching and research cannot maintain its stature without the present partnership with the Federal Government. The "problem between higher education and federal agencies is how to manage the future of a partnership that has been on balance eminently good over the past decade." Major sections are: The Educational Scene, Research Support (Alleged Evils of Federal Support, Benefits of Federal Support), A "Case History." Major "Institutions of higher education and those representing the scientific enterprise of the federal government are today completely dependent upon each other… . this relationship can be wisely managed, in such a way that both national and local interests can be met and strengthened." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)