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“Social Determinants of Health and Chronic Disease Outcomes – Part 9

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Introduction

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Social Determinants of Health and Chronic Disease Outcomes – Part 9

Introduction

Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. They are also a major driver of healthcare costs. While individual behaviors, such as smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity, play a role in the development of chronic diseases, they are not the only factors. Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. SDOH can have a profound impact on chronic disease outcomes.

This article is part of a series that explores the relationship between SDOH and chronic disease outcomes. In this article, we will discuss the role of social support in chronic disease outcomes.

Social Support and Chronic Disease Outcomes

Social support is the emotional, informational, and instrumental assistance that people receive from others. It can come from a variety of sources, including family, friends, neighbors, and community organizations. Social support has been shown to have a positive impact on a wide range of health outcomes, including chronic disease outcomes.

There are a number of ways in which social support can improve chronic disease outcomes. First, social support can help people to manage stress. Stress is a major risk factor for chronic diseases. When people have strong social support networks, they are better able to cope with stress and reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases.

Second, social support can help people to adopt healthy behaviors. People who have strong social support networks are more likely to eat healthy diets, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking. This is because they are more likely to receive encouragement and support from others to engage in these behaviors.

Third, social support can help people to adhere to medical treatment. People who have strong social support networks are more likely to take their medications as prescribed, attend medical appointments, and follow their doctor’s recommendations. This is because they are more likely to receive reminders and support from others to adhere to their treatment plans.

Fourth, social support can help people to cope with the challenges of living with a chronic disease. Chronic diseases can be physically and emotionally challenging. People who have strong social support networks are better able to cope with these challenges and maintain their quality of life.

Evidence for the Role of Social Support in Chronic Disease Outcomes

There is a large body of evidence that supports the role of social support in chronic disease outcomes. For example, a study published in the journal Health Psychology found that people with strong social support networks were less likely to develop heart disease. The study followed over 10,000 adults for 10 years. The researchers found that people who reported having high levels of social support were 20% less likely to develop heart disease than people who reported having low levels of social support.

Another study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, found that people with diabetes who had strong social support networks had better blood sugar control. The study followed over 500 adults with diabetes for 1 year. The researchers found that people who reported having high levels of social support had lower A1c levels (a measure of blood sugar control) than people who reported having low levels of social support.

A third study, published in the journal Cancer, found that people with cancer who had strong social support networks were more likely to survive. The study followed over 2,000 adults with cancer for 5 years. The researchers found that people who reported having high levels of social support were 25% more likely to survive than people who reported having low levels of social support.

These studies, and many others, provide strong evidence that social support plays a critical role in chronic disease outcomes.

How to Improve Social Support for People with Chronic Diseases

There are a number of things that can be done to improve social support for people with chronic diseases. First, healthcare providers can assess their patients’ social support networks. This can be done by asking patients about their relationships with family, friends, and community organizations. Healthcare providers can also use standardized questionnaires to assess social support.

Second, healthcare providers can provide patients with information about the benefits of social support. This information can help patients to understand the importance of social support and motivate them to build and maintain strong social support networks.

Third, healthcare providers can connect patients with social support resources. There are a number of community organizations that offer social support services for people with chronic diseases. These organizations can provide patients with emotional support, educational resources, and practical assistance.

Fourth, family and friends can play an important role in providing social support to people with chronic diseases. Family and friends can provide emotional support, help with errands, and provide transportation to medical appointments. They can also help to encourage people with chronic diseases to adopt healthy behaviors.

Fifth, policymakers can create policies that support social support. For example, policymakers can fund programs that provide social support services to people with chronic diseases. They can also create policies that make it easier for people to access social support services.

Examples of Interventions to Improve Social Support

There are a number of interventions that have been shown to be effective in improving social support for people with chronic diseases. These interventions include:

• Support groups: Support groups provide a safe and supportive environment for people with chronic diseases to share their experiences and learn from others.
• Peer mentoring: Peer mentoring programs pair people with chronic diseases with mentors who have similar conditions. Mentors can provide emotional support, practical advice, and encouragement.
• Caregiver support programs: Caregiver support programs provide support and resources to caregivers of people with chronic diseases. These programs can help caregivers to cope with the challenges of caregiving and maintain their own health and well-being.
• Community-based programs: Community-based programs offer a variety of services to people with chronic diseases, such as health education, exercise classes, and social activities.
• Technology-based interventions: Technology-based interventions, such as online support groups and mobile apps, can provide social support to people with chronic diseases who may not be able to access traditional support services.

Challenges to Improving Social Support

There are a number of challenges to improving social support for people with chronic diseases. These challenges include:

• Lack of awareness: Many people are not aware of the importance of social support for chronic disease outcomes.
• Stigma: Some people with chronic diseases may be reluctant to seek social support because of stigma.
• Lack of access: Social support services may not be readily available in all communities.
• Cost: Some social support services may be expensive.
• Time constraints: People with chronic diseases may have difficulty finding the time to participate in social support activities.

Conclusion

Social support is a critical determinant of chronic disease outcomes. People who have strong social support networks are more likely to manage stress, adopt healthy behaviors, adhere to medical treatment, and cope with the challenges of living with a chronic disease. There are a number of things that can be done to improve social support for people with chronic diseases, including assessing patients’ social support networks, providing patients with information about the benefits of social support, connecting patients with social support resources, and creating policies that support social support. Overcoming the challenges to improving social support will require a concerted effort from healthcare providers, policymakers, community organizations, and family and friends. By working together, we can improve the health and well-being of people with chronic diseases.