Clarification of social support.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the concept of social support.


METHODS
Template Verification and Expansion Model.


METHODS
Meta-synthesis strategies.


RESULTS
Social support is composed of emotional and instrumental support. It is an advocative interpersonal process characterized by reciprocal exchange of information, it is context specific, and it results in improved mental health. Antecedents of emotional and instrumental support include a perceived need plus a social network and climate that are conducive to the exchange of social support.


CONCLUSIONS
In keeping with the nonprofessional nature of social support, nurses are advised to encourage patients to use and enhance personal support networks. For the same reason, nurses should reconsider investigating social support as a nursing intervention. Expanded efforts are needed to differentiate social support from concepts such as caring.
Finfgeld-Connett
Deborah
D
Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. finfgeldD@missouri.edu
D019058:Community Networks; D004644:Emotions; D004645:Empathy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008037:Linguistics; D008603:Mental Health; D016294:Models, Nursing; D008960:Models, Psychological; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality