Mediating role of social support in dysphoria,despondency,and quality of life in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis

BACKGROUND Dysphoria and despondency are prevalent psychological issues in patients undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis(MHD)that significantly affect their quality of life(QOL).High levels of social support can significantly improve the physical and mental well-being of patients undergoing MHD.Currently,there is limited research on how social support mediates the relationship between dysphoria,despondency,and overall QOL in patients undergoing MHD.It is imperative to investigate this mediating effect to mitigate dysphoria and despondency in patients undergoing MHD,ultimately enhancing their overall QOL.AIM To investigate the mediating role of social support in relationships between dysphoria,despondency,and QOL among patients undergoing MHD.METHODS Participants comprised 289 patients undergoing MHD,who were selected using a random sampling approach.The Social Support Rating Scale,Self-Rating Anxiety Scale,Self-Rating Depression Scale,and QOL Scale were administered.Correlation analysis was performed to examine the associations between social support,dysphoria,despondency,and QOL in patients undergoing MHD.To assess the mediating impact of social support on dysphoria,despondency,and QOL in patients undergoing MHD,a bootstrap method was applied.RESULTS Significant correlations among social support,dysphoria,despondency,and quality in patients undergoing MHD were observed(all P<0.01).Dysphoria and despondency negatively correlated with social support and QOL(P<0.01).Dysphoria and despondency had negative predictive impacts on the QOL of patients undergoing MHD(P<0.05).The direct effect of dysphoria on QOL was statistically significant(P<0.05).Social support mediated the relationship between dysphoria and QOL,and this mediating effect was significant(P<0.05).Similarly,the direct effect of despondency on QOL was significant(P<0.05).Moreover,social support played a mediating role between despondency and QOL,with a significant mediating effect(P<0.05).CONCLUSION These findings suggest that social support plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between dysphoria,despondency,and QOL in patients undergoing MHD.

Relationship between Moral Elevation and Prosocial Behavior among College Students: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support and Moderating Role of Moral Identity

Objectives:The present study examined the relationship between college students’moral elevation and prosocial behavior.As well as the mediating role of perceived social support and the moderating role of moral identity.Methods:A sample of 489 college students were recruited for the study.They were asked to complete a series of questionnaires,including Moral Elevation Scale(MES),Perceived Social Support Scale(PSSS),Moral Identity Scale(MIS)and Prosocial Tendency Measure(PTM).As part of the data analysis,we used correlation analysis and the method of constructing latent variable structural equation model to explore the mechanism of action among variables.Results:After controlling for gender,discipline,the research found that:(1)Moral elevation positively predicted the prosocial behavior among the college students;(2)Perceived social support mediated the relationship between moral elevation and prosocial behavior;(3)Moral identity moderated the second half of the model(i.e.,the link between perceived social support and prosocial behavior).Specifically,the mediating effect of perceived social support was stronger for college students with high-level moral identity compared to those with low-level moral identity.Conclusions:Moral identity significantly moderates the mediating effect of perceived social support,and the mediating model with moderated is established.

The Relationship between Mental Health Literacy and Subjective Well-Being of Young and Middle-Aged Residents: Perceived the Mediating Role of Social Support and Its Urban-Rural Differences

This study investigates mental health literacy among young and middle-aged urban and rural residents and the differences in mental health literacy,perceived social support and subjective well-being.From January to February 2022,620 participants(320 rural and 300 urban residents)from three provinces of China were selected by con-venience sampling.A general data questionnaire,mental health literacy scale,perceived social support scale and subjective well-being scale were administered.The mental health literacy scores of urban residents were 3.34±0.57 and those of rural residents were 2.73±0.79.The results of multiple regression analysis showed that the mental health literacy scores of rural residents were more significant than those of urban residents in terms of sex and age,while urban residents’mental health literacy scores were more significant than those of rural resi-dents in terms of monthly income.Mental health literacy,perceived social support and subjective well-being of young and middle-aged urban and rural residents were all positively correlated(P<0.01).While the level of mental health literacy is better among urban residents than rural residents,perceived social support plays a partial mediating role between mental health literacy and subjective well-being of both urban and rural residents,and should be the focus of researchers seeking to improve the level of well-being of residents.

Relationship between primary caregivers’social support function,anxiety,and depression after interventional therapy for acute myocardial infarction patients

BACKGROUND An acute myocardial infarction(AMI)is often treated with direct coronary intervention and requires home-based rehabilitation.Caregivers of patients with AMI need adequate social support to maintain high-quality care;however,their social support function is low,and relevant indicators for intervention must be identified.AIM To analyze the correlation between social support for primary caregivers,their anxiety,and depression,when caring for patients with AMI after interventional therapy.METHODS Using convenience sampling,we selected 300 primary caregivers of patients with AMI who had undergone interventional therapy.The Social Support Rating Scale(SSRS),Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),and Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)were used to assess the primary caregivers.A Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between the SSRS,SAS,and SDS,and a multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing the low social support function of primary caregivers.The receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve(AUC)were used to evaluate the predictive ability of the SAS and SDS for low social support function in primary caregivers.RESULTS Considering the norm among Chinese people,AMI caregivers’objective support,subjective support,support utilization,and SSRS scores were lower,while their SAS and SDS scores were higher.The SSRS scores of female caregivers were higher than those of the male caregivers(t=2.123,P=0.035).The Pearson correlation analysis showed that objective support,subjective support,support utilization,and SSRS total scores were significantly correlated with both SAS(r=-0.414,-0.460,-0.416,-0.535)and SDS scores(r=-0.463,-0.379,-0.349,-0.472).Among the 300 AMI caregivers,56 cases(18.67%)had a low level of support function(SSRS≤22 points).Logistic regression model analysis showed that SAS and SDS were independent risk factors for low social support function of AMI caregivers,regardless of adjustment for other variables(P<0.05).SAS and SDS predicted that the AUC of AMI caregivers with low support function was 0.84,sensitivity was 67.9 and 71.4,and specificity was 84.0 and 70.9,respectively.CONCLUSION The social support function of the primary caregiver of patients with AMI after interventional therapy was lower and negatively correlated with anxiety and depression in the primary caregiver.

Effect of Family Cohesion on Depression of Chinese College Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Chain Mediation Effect of Perceived Social Support and Intentional Self-Regulation

Individuals’perceptions,attitudes,and patterns of getting along with family members are important factors influencing Chinese people’s self-evaluation.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of family cohesion on depression and the role of perceived social support and intentional self-regulation in this association.A hypothesized model of the association of family cohesion,perceived social support,intentional self-regulation,and depression was examined.A convenience sampling method was used to survey 1,180 college students in Yunnan Province using self-report.Data were collected using the Family Cohesion Scale,the Perceived Social Support Scale,the Intentional Self-Regulation Scale,and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale.The findings revealed low to moderate correlation between the variables studied.College students’family cohesion was a negative predictor of their depression.This association was also mediated by the knock-on effect of perceived social support and intentional self-regulation.These findings show how family cohesion affects college students’depressive status.Specifically,these results help demonstrate the importance of family cohesion,perceived social support,and intentional self-regulation in optimizing students’depression,which in turn can promote better psychological states.

The Relationship between Rural Left-Behind Children’s Physical Activity and Hope:The Mediating Effects of Perceived Social Support

It has been confirmed in previous studies that there is a positive correlation between physical activity and hope.In this study,rural left-behind children in China was taken as the participants to investigate the impact of physical activity on hope in rural left-behind children and examine the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between physical activity and hope.797 valid copies of the questionnaire were collected from China.Pearson correlation coefficient was employed to analyze the relationship between physical activity and hope;SEM and Bootstrap were used to test the mediating effect of perceived social support.The results show that physical activity can not only directly and positively predict the level of hope in rural leftbehind children but can also predict the level of hope through perceived social support;perceived social support plays a mediating role in the relationship between physical activity and hope.These results highlight the necessity to pay more attention to the physical activity of left-behind children and the possibility to improve the level of hope by increasing their physical activity;at the same time,the acquisition of more material,emotional and psychological support from teachers and guardians is more conducive to improving the sense of hope in left-behind children.These findings can deepen the understanding of the sense of hope in left-behind children,and provide new methods for and enlightenments on improving the level of hope in left-behind children.

Preventing Health Anxiety:The Role of Self-Evaluation,Sense of Coherence,Self-Rated Health and Perceived Social Support

Background:Components of Self,completed with the perceived social support determine the individual differences in theevaluation of a stressor and the behavioral responses toward it,such as health-related anxiety.The study set as a goal theanalysis of associations between the components of Self,such as self-evaluation,sense of coherence,perceived social support,and reported health-related anxiety in an adult sample.Methods:147 adults from the 18–73 age group(mean age 37.5)voluntarily completed the questionnaire through Qualtrics online platform containing the Short Health Anxiety Inventory,Core Self-Evaluation Scale,Social Support Assessing Scale,and one Health Self-Evaluation Item.Results:ANOVA foundrelevant differences in total scores and subscales’scores of the health anxiety scale depending on the positive self-evaluation.Linear regression shows that the analyzed variables were responsible for the prediction of a higher value on the“Perceivedprobability of becoming ill”subscale in a proportion of 45.6%and for the“Perceived consequence of illness”subscale in aproportion of 20.2%The predictive value of the linear regression model for the total score on the health anxiety scale was46.3%.Our findings show that negative Core Self-Evaluation is linked with perceived health anxiety.Conclusions:Selfevaluation,sense of coherence and perceived social support influence the perceived health and can explain the differences inthe reported health-related anxiety.

Gender Differences in the Incidence and Related Factors of Low Social Support among Adolescents with Subthreshold Depression

Background:Social support is related to depression,but the gender differences and related factors that contribute to low social support among adolescents with subthreshold depression remain to be elucidated.This study explores the relationship between social support and depression,in addition to the gender difference in the incidence of low social support among adolescents with subthreshold depression and its related factors.Methods:A total of 371 Chinese adolescents with subthreshold depression were recruited.All subjects were rated on the Social Support Scale for Adolescents,the Response Style Scale,the Self-Perception Profile for Children,the Individualism-collectivism scale.Results:Binary logistic regression indicated that the stability dimension of cognitive style,the generality dimension of the Cognitive Style Questionnaire,and the social acceptance dimension of the Self-Perception Profile for Children scale were significantly correlated with social support level in male adolescents with subthreshold depression.In contrast,the total score of the Self-Perception Profile for Children scale,the social acceptance of the Self-Perception Profile for Children scale,total individualism,and total collectivism were significantly correlated with social support level in female adolescents with subthreshold depression.Limitations:This study is a cross-sectional study,and its effectiveness in explaining factors that influence levels of social support is limited.Conclusions:The gender difference between low social support among adolescents with subthreshold depression is related to cognitive style,self-perception,and collectivism–individualism.

Relationship between perceived social support and post-traumatic growth in coronavirus disease 2019 patients discharged from the hospital

BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has affected mental health and physical health negatively in some individuals.Examining perceived social support and post-traumatic growth(PTG)in COVID-19 patients could facilitate our understanding of how patients maintain their mental health.AIM To examine the relationship between the level of perceived social support and PTG in COVID-19 patients discharged from the hospital.METHODS This descriptive study was carried out between August and September 2022 with patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 in a university hospital in Erzurum and who were discharged at least 3 mo prior to the beginning of the study.The study was completed by 196 patients.Study data were collected faceto-face using a personal information form,multidimensional scale of perceived social support and PTG inventory.RESULTS The total mean score of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support was 63.82±15.72.The PTG inventory total mean score was 47.77±19.85.In addition,a direct significant correlation was found between perceived social support in COVID-19 patients and PTG.CONCLUSION The study results showed that perceived social support variables affected PTG significantly.Therefore,it is recommended for healthcare professionals to implement interventions to promote social support from healthcare professionals and the patient’s family and friends.Considering the negative effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,it is very important and necessary to implement effective public health interventions to promote PTG to reduce mental health problems.

A Clinical Investigation: Study on Psychosocial Characteristics, Social Support and Intervention Strategies of Outpatient Cancer Pain Patients

Background and Objective: The presence of pain in cancer patients is a prevalent concomitant symptom, exerting significant impacts on their physical, psychological, and social functioning. However, the psychological and social aspects are often overlooked. This study aims to explore the factors influencing the provision of psychological and social support for patients experiencing cancer-related pain while proposing intervention measures to enhance treatment compliance, confidence levels, and overall quality of life. Materials and Methods: According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 108 patients with moderate to severe advanced cancer pain who had received outpatient analgesia treatment for at least one month were selected as the study subjects. The psychological characteristics and social support of these patients were further examined using the Self-Rating Symptom Scale (SCL-90) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). The influencing factors were compared with the national norms. Results: The total score of SCL-90 was significantly different from that of the domestic norm (P < 0.05), and the total score of social support was significantly different from that of the domestic norm (P < 0.01). In addition to hostile symptoms, Somatic, obsessive, sensitive, depression, anxiety, terror, paranoia, psychosis and other symptoms were correlated with subjective support (P 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with cancer pain are more vulnerable to physical symptoms, psychological distress, lack of social support, and other contributing factors. Implementing standardized treatment protocols can effectively alleviate physical symptoms while also emphasizing the importance of psychosocial interventions to address negative emotions and enhance social support. By bolstering patient confidence through these measures, we can ultimately improve treatment outcomes and enhance patients’ overall quality of life.

Experienced Involvement (ExIn) in Social-Psychiatric Care of Germany-Challenges and Chances

This study explores the integration of Experienced Involvement(ExIn)in social-psychiatric care in Germany,emphasizing both the challenges and opportunities it presents.The European Leonardo da Vinci Project(2005-2007)established a curriculum for ExIn,promoting participatory structures in psychiatric services.While peer support is well-established in other European countries,Germany’s experience is still developing.This research uses a mixed methods design,combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews,to investigate the professional experiences of ExIn recovery companions and team colleagues in German clinics and support services.The findings reveal numerous benefits:for social-psychiatric services,ExIn enhances service quality,inclusivity,and accessibility;for team colleagues,it fosters reflexivity,hope,and trust,and improves self-care;for service users,it provides empowerment,easy access to support,trust,and hope,and offers credible role models.Despite these benefits,challenges such as stigmatization,lack of recognition,and financial constraints remain and require to be addressed.The study highlights the need and provides implications for a dedicated and inclusive approach to effectively implementing ExIn,ultimately enriching psychiatric care through experiential knowledge and reducing prejudice within mental health services.

The Optimization Path of Research Support Services in University Libraries from the Perspective of Affordance Theory

University libraries,as an integral component of university research capabilities,are tasked with serving education by providing research support to faculty and students.This study adopts an affordance research perspective originating from ecological psychology to explore the optimization path of research support services in libraries in the new media era.Based on the characteristics of university library services,this research analyzes three aspects:production affordance,mobile affordance,and social affordance,and proposes practical recommendations to guide future research service practices of university libraries.

Psychological Distress, Social Support and Medication Adherence in Patients with Ischemic Stroke in the Mainland of China

Stroke research and rehabilitation have traditionally focused on the physical and functional impact of a stroke. Less attention has been given to the psychosocial factors associated with this chronic condition. By the few studies that have specifically focused on psychosocial factors in the context of stroke, poststroke depression is demonstrated to significantly influence stroke outcomes. Associations of stroke with psychological symptoms other than depression have rarely been evaluated. This study was aimed to investigate the changes of psychological stress, social support and medication adherence in patients with ischemic stroke in the mainland of China. In this study, 90 patients with hemiplegia one year after first-ever middle cerebral artery infarction（stroke group） in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from June 2008 to June 2011 were recruited for interview. Ninety age- and sex-matched normal volunteers（control group） were also examined at the same period. The psychological distress was assessed by the Symptom Checklist 90（SCL-90）, the social support by the Social Support Rating Scale（SSRS）, and medication adherence by Morisky＇s self-reported inventory, respectively. Group differences were analyzed using unpaired-t test and chi-squared test. The results showed that total mean scores of the SCL-90 in the stroke group were higher than those in the control group（P〈0.01）. Except two dimensions, paranoid ideation and psychoticism, mean scores of the rest dimensions（including somatization, obsession-compulsion, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, and phobic anxiety） of SCL-90 were significantly higher in the stroke group than those in the control group（P〈0.05, or P〈0.01）. The objective support, subjective support, support availability and total social support scores in the stroke group were significantly higher than those in the control group（P〈0.05, or P〈0.01）. Those in the ＂SCL-90 total scores 〉150 group＂ were significantly higher than in the ＂SCL-90 total scores 〈100 group＂ and the ＂SCL-90 total scores between 100 to 150 group＂（P〈0.05, or P〈0.01）. Those in the ＂SCL-90 total scores between 100 to 150 group＂ were significantly higher than in the ＂SCL-90 total scores 〈100 group＂（P〈0.05）. In 90 patients with ischemic stroke, 26（28.89%） patients obtained high medication adherence, 47（52.22%） patients medium medication adherence, and 17（18.89%） patients low medication adherence, respectively. Among these stroke patients, there were 17（50.00%） patients with high medication adherence in the ＂SCL-90 total scores 〉150 group＂, 28（75.67%） patients with medium medication adherence in the ＂SCL-90 total scores between 100 to 150 group＂, and 12（61.16%） patients with low medication adherence in the ＂SCL-90 total scores 〈100 group＂, respectively. There was significant difference in the medication adherence rate among the different SCL-90 scores groups in these stroke patients（P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. It was led to conclude that ischemic stroke patients one year after hemiplegia have psychological distress, low level of social support and poor medication adherence in the mainland of China. Therefore, it is necessary to mobilize the government, medical institutions and various social support groups to offer psychological interventions to relieve the stress of patients with ischemic stroke, and improve their medication adherence.

Path analysis of relationship among personality, perceived stress, coping, social support, and psychological outcomes

AIM: To provide a structural model of the relationship between personality traits, perceived stress, coping strategies, social support, and psychological outcomes in the general population.METHODS: This is a cross sectional study in which the study group was selected using multistage cluster and convenience sampling among a population of 4 million. For data collection, a total of 4763 individuals were asked to complete a questionnaire on demographics, personality traits, life events, coping with stress, social support, and psychological outcomes such as anxiety and depression. To evaluate the comprehensive relation-ship between the variables, a path model was fitted.RESULTS: The standard electronic modules showed that personality traits and perceived stress are important determinants of psychological outcomes. Social support and coping strategies were demonstrated to reduce the increasing cumulative positive effects of neuroticism and perceived stress on the psychological outcomes and enhance the protective effect of extraversion through decreasing the positive effect of perceived stress on the psychological outcomes. CONCLUSION: Personal resources play an important role in reduction and prevention of anxiety and depression. In order to improve the psychological health, it is necessary to train and reinforce the adaptive coping strategies and social support, and thus, to moderate negative personality traits.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms,Parenting Stress and Social Support in Chinese Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Although little is known about the current situation regarding autism spectrum disorder(ASD)in main land China,psychiatric disorders are common among Chinese mothers of preschool children with ASD.Previous studies showed ASD child's behavioral symptoms,maternal anxiety,and maternal depressive symptoms were associated with overall parenting stress in northern China.In the present study,we retrospectively analyzed medical records at the hospital related to neuropsychiatric symptoms,parenting stress and social support in mothers of children with ASD from southern China.A total of 80 mothers of children with ASD were screened.Among them,34 mothers were in low-functioning ASD group(L-ASD group)and 46 mothers were in highfunctioning ASD group(H-ASD group).Identification of the ASD cases was confirmed with a Revised Autism Diagnostic Inventory.Neuropsychiatric symptoms,parenting stress and social support were measured by neuropsychiatric inventory(NPI),parenting stress index short form(PSISF),and multi-dimensional scale of perceived social support(MSPSS).Total mean score of the NPI in the L-ASD group was significantly higher than that in the H-ASD group(P<0.01).The subscale scores of NPI,including depression,anxiety,apathy,irritability,agitation,night time behavior disturbances and change in appetite were significantly higher in the L-ASD group than those in the H-ASD group(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Meanwhile,the total PSI-SF scores and the scores of parental distress(PD),parental-child dysfunctional interaction(PCDI)and difficult child(DC)in the L-ASD group were significantly higher than those in the H-ASD group(P<0.01 or P<0.05).The total score of MSPSS was also higher in the L-ASD group than in the H-ASD group(P<0.01).This study goes further to show the neuropsychiatric symptoms and parenting stress are significantly higher in mothers of children with ASD,and more social supports are needed for mothers of children with ASD from southern China,especially for mothers of children with low-functioning ASD.

Correlation between resilience and social support and anxiety in obstetric nurses

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between psychological resilience and social support and anxiety in obstetric nurses and to provide theoretical basis for improving the mental health of obstetric nurses.Methods: In this study, 190 obstetric nurses were included, using the general information questionnaire and The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale(CD-RISC), Social Support Rating Scale, and survey of Self-evaluation of Anxiety Scale.Results: There are differences in the type of work and the score of psychological resilience(P<0.05), obstetric nurses’ resilience score was 65.58±10.65; self-rating anxiety score of obstetric nurses was 36.89±6.87; and social support score of obstetric nurses was44.3717.86. The psychological elasticity score and anxiety were negatively related(P<0.01), whereas the resilience score and total score of social support were positively related(P<0.01).Conclusions: Obstetric nurses have many responsibilities and stress. Nursing managers should focus on obstetric nurses’ mental health, lighten the obstetric nurses’ anxiety, and thus improve their mental flexibility and optimize the quality of nursing service better,with more passion into work.

Multiple mediation effects of health locusof control and hope on the relationshipbetween stroke patients’ social supportand self-management

Objective:This study aimed to identify the mediation effects of health locus of control(HLC)and hope between stroke patients’social support and self-management.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted.A total of 300 Chinese stroke patients were recruited by convenient sampling from the acupuncture department of two Chinese Traditional Medical Hospitals in Tianjin Province from June to September 2018.The self-report questionnaires include Social Support Assessment Scale,Herth Hope Index,Mental Health Locus of Control Scale,Stroke Self-management Behavior Scale,and personal information questionnaires.All the survey data were entered in Excel and analyzed using the SPSS 24.0 program.Mediation was tested with Bootstrapping in AMOS 23.0 program.Results:The result showed that internal health locus of control(IHLC),chance health locus of control(CHLC)and hope were the mediators between social support and self-management.The direct,indirect,and total effects of social support on self-management behavior were 0.306 (P<0.01),0.109(P<0.01),and 0.415(P<0.01),respectively.Conclusions:Social support can directly influence self-management,and it can also indirectly influence self-management through IHLC,CHLC,and hope.

Parental social support, perceived competence and enjoyment in school physical activity

Background:Beginning in the elementary school years,there are differences among children on how they perceive their competence in physical activity(PA).Children's competence perceptions may influence their affective reactions to PA.A crucial question is how to motivate children who hold low competence perceptions to enhance their enjoyment and PA involvement.Because parents play critical roles in children's development and socialization,social support from parents can be an important factor to complement teachers'effort to enhance children's enjoyment and PA involvement.In this research we identified the associations among children's beliefs about parental social support,perceived competence,and enjoyment in school PA.Methods:Three hundred and twenty children(9-11 years old)participated in a two-wave study.At the first wave,children completed questionnaires measuring their beliefs about parental social support,perceived competence,and enjoyment in school PA;they reported their enjoyment again 8 months later at the second wave.Results:Both concurrent and longitudinal analyses revealed that beliefs about parental social support were important factors associated with children's enjoyment in school PA,especially among girls with low competence perceptions.Conclusion:Family socialization factors should be taken into consideration.The efficacy of individual and community-level strategies should be included and evaluated when designing effective intervention strategies that enhance children's PA in school.

Relationships between Emotional Well-Being, Patient Activation and Social Support among Adults with Severe Obesity Who Have Undergone Gastric Bypass Surgery

Objective: To examine the relationship between emotional well-being, patient activation and social support in a cohort of adults with severe obesity who underwent gastric bypass surgery from January to December 2012. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Subjects: Of a total population of 129 people, aged 18 - 68 years, at a local hospital in central Norway, 64 (50%) responding to the questionnaire, 52 (81%) being women. Main Outcome Measures: The World Health Organization—Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), the 13-item Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13), a 16-item instrument on the frequency and content of social support, and demographic and clinical data. Results: A significant positive association was found between higher level of patient activation and better emotional well-being (P = 0.02) in linear regression analysis. A higher level of family support was significantly associated with better emotional well-being (practical social support from the family (P = 0.04), emotional social support from family (P = 0.01) and from friends (P = 0.005)). Conclusion: Screening tools for emotional well-being should be used systematically in postoperative consultations to recognize those who need a more individually tailored post-surgery follow-up care after gastric bypass surgery. In addition, health care providers in both specialist and primary health care settings should consider assessing the level of social support as part of regular follow-up routines.

Donors’ Quality of Life after Live Liver Transplantation and Social Support: A Correlation Study

Objective: Donors’ quality of life (QOL) and social support were investigated in this study. Method: The SF-36 scale and social support scale were used to survey the quality of life and social support of donors of live liver transplantation. Result: The PCS (Physical Correlated Score) is 84.78 ± 13.21, the MCS (Mental Correlated Score) is 80.71 ± 14.65, and the total score is 165.49 ± 22.63. The results show the significant difference at GH (General Health) & VT (Vitality) domain regarding the age, P < 0.05;while there’s a significant difference at BP (Body Pain) domain regarding the sex, P < 0.05. The social support score of male & female donors are 37.75 ± 7.50 and 44.00 ± 4.30, and the difference is significant, P < 0.05. The MCS and the social support score are correlated, the correlation factor is 0.483, P < 0.05. Conclusion: There’s no significant difference between the donors and the normal population. The age is the risk factor of QOL, and it should be paid more attention when we select the donor. Excellent social support relates to high quality of life.