MODIFYING SOCIAL INFLUENCE - SPECIFICALLY SOCIAL SUPPORT

What best explains social support from the options below?

Different methods for improving social influence Information about [blank_start]others’ approval[blank_end] ƒ- telling people ‘most other people think…’ regarding what is important [blank_start]Social comparison[blank_end] - comparing yourself to others [blank_start]Mobilizing[blank_end]/organizing social support ƒ [blank_start]Resistance to[blank_end] social pressure - esp. for young people - teaching them how to deal with social pressure - SKILLS, e.g. drinking, smoking

There is no “social support theory”. Social support has direct effect on health outcomes, but can also impact health behaviour. Why? Several theories explain this… [blank_start]Attachment[blank_end] theory ƒ [blank_start]Exchange[blank_end] theory ƒ Symbolic [blank_start]interactionism[blank_end] ƒ Theories of [blank_start]interpersonal[blank_end] relations

Central elements of social support: [blank_start]Consciously[blank_end] provided support, with the aim of being [blank_start]helpful[blank_end]. ƒ Works in or through social [blank_start]networks[blank_end] and social [blank_start]relationships[blank_end].

Types of social support [blank_start]Emotional[blank_end] support ƒ- provision of empathy, love, trust, care [blank_start]Instrumental[blank_end] support – direct material/physical help and assistance ƒ [blank_start]Informational[blank_end] support – advice, suggestions, information ƒ [blank_start]Appraisal[blank_end] support – feedback and affirmation

All types of social support are either [blank_start]Structural[blank_end] support – presence of support by significant others ƒ- can be [blank_start]measured[blank_end]. OR [blank_start]Functional[blank_end] support – [blank_start]perception[blank_end] of support - do I think I am supported by others? Depends on individual characteristics and expectations. This has strongest relationship to help. Most important to influence, but very difficult. How can you change perceptions of support. In most applications, focus is on providing structural support.

In social support, the focus is on changing

PARAMETERS FOR USE - social support Effectiveness of the social support depends on the source of the support. [blank_start]Empathic understanding[blank_end] from the social support provider is important. It connects the social support to the needs and values of the recipient. The provided help should be [blank_start]perceived as helpful[blank_end] by the recipient. The [blank_start]network[blank_end] is important. Close networks and homogeneous networks are more effective in providing affective and instrumental support. How can social support help with health behaviours? Through direct support (i.e. strong social networks have better health outcomes) ƒ Through coping processes, feelings of relatedness (i.e. through social network, people access individual coping resources) Through improving self-efficacy ƒƒ(i.e. through social network, people access organisational and community resources)

The model describing how social networks impact health: [blank_start]Conceptual[blank_end] Model for the [blank_start]Relationship[blank_end] of Social [blank_start]Networks[blank_end] and Social [blank_start]Support[blank_end] to Health

How can social support help with health behaviours? Through [blank_start]direct[blank_end] support (i.e. strong social networks have better health outcomes) ƒ Through [blank_start]coping[blank_end] processes, feelings of relatedness (i.e. through social network, people access individual coping resources) Through improving [blank_start]self-efficacy[blank_end] ƒƒ(i.e. through social network, people access organisational and community resources)