title: The contributions of nursing science to social support.
abstract: Nurse scientists have contributed to the theoretical development of social support through concept refinement, creation of measures, and intervention research. Nevertheless, deficiencies persist pertaining to the conceptualization of the construct and the design of intervention studies. Cultural, technological and political contexts have an effect on social support. The significance of social support, nurses' scholarly contributions, and continuing conceptual and methodological challenges are analysed.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Tilden
mesh_terms: D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion; D016294:Models, Nursing; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D009742:Nursing Theory; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D012944:Social Support