[Isolation, social support, life events and health status].
Research on the influence of social networks and social support on health status, conducted in English-speaking countries over the past decade, is not yet widespread in France. A review of the literature reveals that this social support has undeniable effects on mental health, and less obvious effects on physical health; it also stresses the major conceptual and methodological problems encountered in socio-epidemiological approaches. It would appear necessary to construct an overall model integrating life events, coping abilities and individual psychological factors; Social support is considered as a function of social networks, fulfilling roles of emotional support, material help, information provider, egostrengthener and social normalizer. Its mechanisms for dealing with stress, especially the buffer-role hypothesis, are also discussed.
D006262:Health; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008393:Marriage; D012931:Social Environment; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support
Isolement, support social, événements de vie et état de santé.