title: Psychosocial support and change in the health status of physically disabled people.
abstract: Evidence is presented on the relationship between psychosocial support (social contact and emotional intimacy) and changes in health status (physical, psychosocial and emotional functioning) experienced by 583 adults age 45-75 years living at home with a preexisting physical illness. Data were used from a panel study of physically disabled adults in London, England to provide a test of the buffer and direct effects hypotheses concerning social support and adverse life events. Controlling for age, sex and initial level of health status, the analyses showed that a low level of social contact was associated significantly with deterioration in psychosocial and emotional functioning only in the presence of adverse life events. A similar but non-significant pattern existed for physical functioning. A high level of social contact had a more protective effect on the physical functioning of respondents with arthritis or heart trouble who also reported depression, except among women age 45-64. Level of emotional intimacy was not a significant influence on reported health status change. Confiding relationships do not appear important for adults with preexisting illnesses who are not at significant risk of developing stress-related conditions. Social participation outside the home would help to reduce deterioration in psychosocial and emotional functioning, important outcomes for improving and maintaining quality of life.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006304:Health Status; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support