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Social Networks, the ‘Work’ and Work Force of Chronic Illness Self-Management: A Survey Analysis of Personal Communities

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  • Ivaylo Vassilev
  • Anne Rogers
  • Christian Blickem
  • Helen Brooks
  • Dharmi Kapadia
  • Anne Kennedy
  • Caroline Sanders
  • Sue Kirk
  • David Reeves

Abstract

Self-management support forms a central aspect of chronic Illness management nationally and globally. Evidence for the success of self-management support has mainly focussed on individually-centred outcomes of behavioural change. While it is recognised that social network members play an important role there is currently a gap in knowledge regarding who provides what type of support and under what circumstances. This is relevant for understanding the division of labour and the meeting of needs for those living with a long-term condition. We therefore took a network approach to explore self-management support conceptualising it as types of illness ‘work’ undertaken within peoples’ social networks. 300 people from deprived areas and with chronic illnesses took part in a survey conducted in 2010 in the North West of England. A concentric circles diagram was used as a research tool with which participants identified 2,544 network members who contributed to illness management. The results provide an articulation of how social network members are substantially involved in illness management. Whilst partners and close family make the highest contributions there is evidence of inputs from a wide range of relationships. Network member characteristics (type of relationship, proximity, frequency of contact) impact on the amount of illness work undertaken in peoples’ networks. In networks with ‘no partner’ other people tend to contribute more in the way of illness related work than in networks with a partner. This indicates a degree of substitutability between differently constituted networks, and that the level and type of input by different members of a network might change according to circumstances. A network perspective offers an opportunity to redress the balance of an exclusively individual focus on self-management because it addresses the broader set of contributions and resources available to people in need of chronic illness management and support.

Suggested Citation

  • Ivaylo Vassilev & Anne Rogers & Christian Blickem & Helen Brooks & Dharmi Kapadia & Anne Kennedy & Caroline Sanders & Sue Kirk & David Reeves, 2013. "Social Networks, the ‘Work’ and Work Force of Chronic Illness Self-Management: A Survey Analysis of Personal Communities," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0059723
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059723
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Katherine L. Fiori & Toni C. Antonucci & Kai S. Cortina, 2006. "Social Network Typologies and Mental Health Among Older Adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 61(1), pages 25-32.
    2. Webber, Martin P. & Huxley, Peter J., 2007. "Measuring access to social capital: The validity and reliability of the Resource Generator-UK and its association with common mental disorder," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(3), pages 481-492, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jan Koetsenruijter & Jan van Lieshout & Christos Lionis & Maria Carmen Portillo & Ivo Vassilev & Elka Todorova & Christina Foss & Manuel Serrano Gil & Ingrid Ruud Knutsen & Agapi Angelaki & Agurtzane , 2015. "Social Support and Health in Diabetes Patients: An Observational Study in Six European Countries in an Era of Austerity," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-12, August.
    2. Gavin Daker-White & Caroline Sanders & Anne Rogers & Ivaylo Vassliev & Christian Blickem & Sudeh Cheraghi-Sohi, 2014. "A Constellation of Misfortune," SAGE Open, , vol. 4(4), pages 21582440145, November.
    3. 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.
    4. Shand, Calum & Crozier, Sarah & Vassilev, Ivaylo & Penn-Newman, Daniel & Dhuria, Preeti & Cooper, Cyrus & Rogers, Anne & Baird, Janis & Vogel, Christina, 2021. "Resources in women's social networks for food shopping are more strongly associated with better dietary quality than people: A cross-sectional study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    5. Jessica Young & Tony Egan & Chrystal Jaye & Martyn Williamson & Anna Askerud & Peter Radue & Maree Penese, 2017. "Shared care requires a shared vision: communities of clinical practice in a primary care setting," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(17-18), pages 2689-2702, September.
    6. Ivaylo Vassilev & Anne Rogers & Anne Kennedy & Michel Wensing & Jan Koetsenruijter & Rosanna Orlando & Maria Carmen Portillo & David Culliford, 2016. "Social Network Type and Long-Term Condition Management Support: A Cross-Sectional Study in Six European Countries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(8), pages 1-15, August.
    7. Shelina Visram & Charlotte Clarke & Martin White, 2014. "Making and Maintaining Lifestyle Changes with the Support of a Lay Health Advisor: Longitudinal Qualitative Study of Health Trainer Services in Northern England," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(5), pages 1-12, May.
    8. Christian Blickem & Shoba Dawson & Susan Kirk & Ivaylo Vassilev & Amy Mathieson & Rebecca Harrison & Peter Bower & Jonathan Lamb, 2018. "What is Asset-Based Community Development and How Might It Improve the Health of People With Long-Term Conditions? A Realist Synthesis," SAGE Open, , vol. 8(3), pages 21582440187, July.
    9. Dot Brown & John Oetzel & Alison Henderson, 2016. "Communication networks of men facing a diagnosis of prostate cancer," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(21-22), pages 3266-3278, November.

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