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Family, Friends and Social Support

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Psychology of Wounds and Wound Care in Clinical Practice

Abstract

The focus for most of the other chapters in this text has been on the person with the wound and the significant psychosocial problems that they may have to confront. However, in this chapter we explore the broader social situation and how this can impact on the individual with the wound and how, in turn, that patient influences it. The concept of social support is outlined, what it is, it’s relationship to health and how this relationship comes about. The relevance to wound care is articulated and how this information can be used to develop social support interventions that can improve concordance, psychological well-being and subsequently wound healing. One specific form of social support- that received from the family and the spouse or partner in particular is explored in detail. Not only are the positive benefits to the individual with the wound detailed but the burden that may result from providing this support outlined. Social support is an important element in wound care and its impact should be harnessed by the health care professional to enhance wound healing and psychological well-being. However, the health care professional should also remember not to neglect the broader family who may all be placed under considerable burden and stress by the presence of an individual with a wound.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Aust Capital Terr, Australia

    Dominic Upton

  2. Institute of Health and Society, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK

    Penney Upton

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Upton, D., Upton, P. (2015). Family, Friends and Social Support. In: Psychology of Wounds and Wound Care in Clinical Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09653-7_8

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