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Personal Network Analysis in the Study of Social Support: The Case of Chronic Pain

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  • Rosario Fernández-Peña

    (Department of Nursing, SALBIS Research Group, Nursing Research Group IDIVAL, University of Cantabria, 39008 Santander, Spain)

  • José Luis Molina

    (Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, GRAFO, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Oliver Valero

    (Servei d’Estadística Aplicada, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

In the context of chronic illness, the individual’s social and relational environment plays a critical role as it can provide the informal support and care over time, beyond healthcare and social welfare institutions. Social Network Analysis represents an appropriate theoretical and methodological approach to study and understand social support since it provides measures of personal network structure, composition and functional content. The aim of this mixed method study is to present the usefulness of Personal Network Analysis to explore social support in the context of chronic pain. Personal and support network data of 30 people with chronic pain (20 alters for each ego, 600 relationships in total) were collected, obtaining measures of personal network structure and composition as well as information about social support characteristics. Also, semi-structured interviews with participants were conducted to identify the context of their experience of pain, their limitations as regards leading an autonomous life, their social support needs and other aspects concerning the effect of pain on their social and relational lives. This approach shows the importance of non-kin social support providers and the significant role of non-providers in the personal networks of people suffering chronic pain.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosario Fernández-Peña & José Luis Molina & Oliver Valero, 2018. "Personal Network Analysis in the Study of Social Support: The Case of Chronic Pain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:12:p:2695-:d:186422
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. María Nieves Rodríguez-Madrid & María del Río-Lozano & Rosario Fernández-Peña & María del Mar García-Calvente, 2021. "Changes in Caregiver Personal Support Networks: Gender Differences and Effects on Health (CUIDAR-SE Study)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Rosario Fernández-Peña & José Luis Molina & Oliver Valero, 2020. "Satisfaction with Social Support Received from Social Relationships in Cases of Chronic Pain: The Influence of Personal Network Characteristics in Terms of Structure, Composition and Functional Conten," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Joanna Harrison & Clare Thetford & Matthew J. Reeves & Christopher Brown & Miland Joshi & Caroline Watkins, 2022. "Returning to Leisure Activity Post-Stroke: Barriers and Facilitators to Engagement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-17, November.
    4. Irena Kovačević & Višnja Majerić Kogler & Valentina Krikšić & Boris Ilić & Adriano Friganović & Štefanija Ozimec Vulinec & Jadranka Pavić & Milan Milošević & Petra Kovačević & Davorina Petek, 2022. "Non-Medical Factors Associated with the Outcome of Treatment of Chronic Non-Malignant Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Imane Semlali & Gilles Merminod & Orest Weber & Ana Terrier & Isabelle Decosterd & Eve Rubli Truchard & Pascal Singy, 2022. "Friendship in Later Life: How Friends Are Significant Resources in Older Persons’ Communication about Chronic Pain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-10, May.

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