Social support and health outcomes in a multicultural urban population.
Data from the Ontario Health Survey were used to examine the relationship between levels of social support and general health, suicidal ideation, family functioning, and utilization of health services among Metropolitan Toronto cultural populations 16-59 years of age (N = 2684). The results of this study provided some support for the hypothesis that social support variables correlate with general health status. Results also show that being a visible minority immigrant is not a risk factor for any of the health outcomes considered here. This finding is not in accordance with the notion of social hardship, which visible minority immigrants purportedly experience in a predominantly white society. Overall, indicators of social support show stronger association with mental health outcomes than with physical health ones.
Wright
Robin
R
School of Social Work, McGill University, 3506 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A7, Canada. robin.wright@mcgill.ca
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012944:Social Support; D014505:Urban Population