Social support is an important in all aspects of life, but it can be most crucial in situations involving people living with terminal illness. A study titled “Victims’ perceptions of social support: what is helpful from whom?” by Dakof and Taylor, discusses some of the concerns and issues of social support as well as some of its beneficial factors. The article followed several patients who were diagnosed with cancer.
Some people may only look at certain ways that social support can be beneficial, while forgetting that there are ways that social support can have a negative impact. According to a previous study, In some cases the patient’s significant other can physically avoid them, avoid open communication about the victimizing event and consequences, fake or force cheerfulness or minimizing of the patients circumstances. All of these can cause disturbances in the psyche of their loved one.
55 participants were selected from a pool of 668 patients. The participants were interviewed asking who had helped them during their times of need, as well as demographics, health status and social support participation. So what made the difference? Firstly, the person. The study showed that who it was made a significant difference in if the support was considered helpful. While almost much everyone was considered helpful friends, family, physicians, nurses and other patients. The only one not found to be an exception was acquaintances, and physicians were only marginally significant. The other major factor in support was the category of support. The study revealed that esteem/emotional support is most commonly considered helpful or even unhelpful if the support is misguided or absent. Esteem/emotional support was also considered most helpful when from someone intimate or close, while informational support was best received from health care providers. There are also finding that different types of social support can be valued from many different individuals within ones social network. These results were particularly stronger when the other individuals were engaged in similar stressful events. While in previous studies, there had shown issues regarding complaints concerning the spouses, family or others close to them, physically avoid them, avoid open communication about the victimizing event and consequences. The results did not show similar in this study, as not one participant issued complaints about avoidance of family members. The data also did not support the avoidance of open communication. Some other concerns when comparing the new data with the old, is that some of the relationships such as physician and patient, were not properly considered when computing the data.
So now you find yourself asking, how can I help? Well, the answer varies depending on your relationship, but chances are if you are reading this you are most likely a loved one. So most importantly, be available to give emotional/esteem support to them. Express concern, empathy, or affection, be accepting of their condition, and provide assistance and optimism whenever possible. While doing this it is important that you avoid certain unhelpful actions such as being critical of the condition, minimizing impact on the patient, being pessimistic, or lack of expressed concern or emotion. Be the best partner you can be, and give the best social support for you friends/family that you can. When they make it though the rough parts they will never forget your help.
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