Social network and health outcomes among African American cardiac rehabilitation patients.
OBJECTIVE
We tested the hypotheses that the number of close social network members and the health-related support provided by social network members are predictive of coping efficacy and health behaviors.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data were collected from 115 African Americans enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation. Measures included the social convoy model, SF-36, the Social Interaction Questionnaire, the Patient Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, and an investigator-developed assessment of health behaviors.


RESULTS
Bivariate relationships were found between the number of inner network members and coping efficacy (r = .19, P < .05) and health behaviors (r = .18, P < .06), and between health-related support and coping efficacy (r = .22, P < .05) and health behaviors (r = .28, P < .001). Regression analyses support the hypothesis that close network members predicted better coping efficacy (β = .18, P < .05) and health behaviors (β = .19, P < .05). Health-related support also predicted coping efficacy (β = .23, P < .05) and health behaviors (β = .30, P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
African Americans with larger inner networks have more health support, better health behaviors, and higher coping efficacy. The number of close social network members and related health-support promote health through health behaviors and coping efficacy.
Tkatch
Rifky
R
Center for Urban and African American Health, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA. aj5802@wayne.edu
Artinian
Nancy T
NT
Abrams
Judith
J
Mahn
Jennifer R
JR
Franks
Melissa M
MM
Keteyian
Steven J
SJ
Franklin
Barry
B
Pienta
Amy
A
Schwartz
Steven
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires