title: Social network structure and social support in HIV-positive inner city mothers.
abstract: It has been documented that social support influences health outcomes of persons with chronic illnesses. The incidence of HIV and AIDS among minority women is growing at an alarming rate, but little is known about social support in this vulnerable population, and even less is known about the social network conveying that support. Guided by the convoy of social networks model, this study describes the social networks in a sample of HIV-positive, urban-dwelling mothers (N = 147) by stage of disease (i.e., asymptomatic, symptomatic, AIDS) and examines relationships between social network structure and social support. Hierarchical linear modeling showed that women's social networks were disproportionately populated by children, and network members of women with AIDS were significantly older than network members of HIV-positive women with or without symptoms. Profile analyses showed that women's perceptions of the quality of social support differed according to the proportion of family members populating different segments of the social network.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Edythe S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Hough
authors.forename: Morris A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Magnan
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Templin
authors.forename: Hesham F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Gadelrab
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D019058:Community Networks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008824:Michigan; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D014195:Travel; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data