title: Fine-tuning theory to the needs of the world: responding to Heller et al.
abstract: Comments on the Heller et al. telephone intervention with isolated elderly women are presented. The importance of addressing contextual factors involved in assessments of social support in community samples is discussed. Comparisons are drawn between the assessment of social support among an elderly sample and an assessment of social support among a sample of chronic illness patients. Three key issues are discussed: (a) Is a little support better than no support and is a little all we really need? (b) Is family support more important than friend support, at least to this population? (c) Can long-term relationships be replaced?
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, New York 10458.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Schiaffino
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008132:Loneliness; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012944:Social Support