Social support, social disability, and psychological well-being in rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that may lead to social disability. As a consequence, the psychological well-being of RA patients can be strained. Social support is a possible moderator of the relation between social disability and psychological well-being. The focus of the present study is on the main effect versus the buffering effect of social support.


METHODS
Data on 54 RA patients were gathered by means of a 2-hr interview at the patient's home.


RESULTS
Receiving more daily emotional support positively related to greater psychological well-being; whereas problem-oriented emotional support negatively related to some aspects of psychological well-being. People receiving more social companionship turned out to be less depressed.


CONCLUSIONS
The assumption was confirmed that social support has a major effect on psychological well-being. A buffering effect of social support was not demonstrated.
Doeglas
D
D
Suurmeijer
T
T
Krol
B
B
Sanderman
R
R
van Rijswijk
M
M
van Leeuwen
M
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires