title: An examination of social support influences on participation for older adults with chronic health conditions.
abstract: Social support can improve participation in everyday activities among older adults with chronic health conditions, but the specific types of support that are needed are unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the types of social support that most strongly predict participation in everyday activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and twenty-seven participants completed a self-administered cross-sectional survey. The sample included adults aged 60 years or more with arthritis, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or heart disease. Participation was defined as satisfaction with participation in 11 life areas. Social support was defined as availability of tangible, affectionate, emotional/informational and positive social interaction support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple regression analyses showed that participants who perceived greater tangible support and positive social interaction support had higher satisfaction with participation than participants with lower levels of these types of support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeting and developing tangible and social interaction support may help to facilitate satisfaction with participation for older adults with chronic conditions. Creating networks for companionship appears equally as important as providing support for daily living needs. Implications for Rehabilitation Varying types of social support can improve participation in older adults with chronic health conditions. Tangible support and positive social interaction support are the strongest predictors of participation. Creating networks for companionship may be equally as important as providing support for daily living needs.
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University , Hamilton, Ontario , Canada .
authors.forename: Carri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hand
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McColl
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Activities of daily living; aged; chronic disease; social environment