Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Conceptualization and Methods in Social Support Theory and Research as Related to Cardiovascular Disease

  • Chapter
Social Support and Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to consider the conceptual and methodological issues of current importance in the study of social support, especially as they pertain to the study of cardiovascular diseases. A main goal of the chapter is to provide the reader with a broad perspective on the usefulness of social support in the study of psychosocial risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The life-span developmental nature of psychosocial relationships generally, and social support specifically, is emphasized. Although the data are generally suggestive of important links between social support and cardiovascular disease, the limited number of studies militate against drawing firm conclusions about the role of social support as either a predictor of cardiovascular disease onset or a modifier of the severity of such disease. The final goal of this chapter is to present a framework for future studies of the relationship between social support and cardiovascular disease. Ideally, future research should be designed to capitalize on both the life-span nature of psychosocial relationships and the developmental nature of the progression of the various cardiovascular diseases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ainsworth, M.D.S., Blehar, M.C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonucci, T. C. (1976). Attachment: A life-span concept. Human Development, (19)(3), 135–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonucci, T. C. (1985). Personal characteristics, social networks and social behavior. In R. H. Binstock & E. Shanas (Eds.), Handbook of aging and the social sciences (2nd ed., pp. 94–128). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonucci, T. C. & Jackson, J. S. (1987). Social support, interpersonal efficacy, and health. In L. Carstensen & B. A. Edelstein (Eds.), Handbook of clinical gerontology (pp. 291–311). New York: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonucci, T. C, Kahn, R. L., & Akiyama, H. (1989). Psychosocial factors and the response to cancer symptoms. In R. Yancik & J. Yates (Eds.), Cancer in the elderly: Approaches to early detection and treatment (pp. 40–52). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and actions. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkman, L. F. (1985). The relationship of social networks and social support to morbidity and mortality. In S. Cohen & S. L. Syme (Eds.), Social support and health (pp. 241–252). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkman, L. F., Leo-Summers, L., & Horwitz, R. I. (1992). Emotional support and survival after myocardial infarction. Annals of Internal Medicine, 117, 1003–1009.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berkman, L. F., & Syme, S. L. (1979). Social networks, host resistance, and mortality: A nine year follow-up study of Alameda County residents. American Journal of Epidemiology, 109(2), 186–204.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blazer, D. G. (1982). Social support and mortality in an elderly population. American Journal of Epidemiology, 115, 684–694.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blumenthal, J. A., Burg, M. M., Barefoot, J., Williams, R. B., Haney, T., & Zimet, G. (1987). Social support, Type A behavior and coronary artery disease. Psychosomatic Medicine, 49, 331–339.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss, vol. 1: Attachment. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Case, R. B., Moss, A. J., Case, N., McDermott, ML, & Eberly, S. (1992). Living alone after myocardial infarction: Impact on prognosis. Journal of the American Medical Association, 267, 515–519.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cassel, J. (1976). The contribution of the social environment to host resistance. American Journal of Epidemiology, 104(3), 253–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesney, M. A., & Rosenman, R. H. (1985). Anger and hostility in cardiovascular and behavioral disorders. Washington, DC: Hemisphere.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobb, S. (1976). Social support as a moderator of life stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 38, 300–314.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. (1988). Psychosocial models of the role of social support in the etiology of physical disease. Health Psychology, 7(3), 269–297.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., & Mathews, S. (1987). Social support, Type A behavior, and coronary artery disease, Psychosomatic Medicine, 49, 325–330.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., & Syme, S. L. (Eds.). (1985). Social support and health. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, D., & Shumaker, S. (1987). Workshop summary: Social support and cardiovascular disease. Arteriosclerosis, 7, 101–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, E. L. (1982). The role of anger and hostility in essential hypertension and coronary heart disease. Psychological Bulletin, 92, 410–433.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ewart, C. K. (1992). Role of physical self-efficacy in recovery from heart attach. In R. S. Schwarzer (Ed.), Self-efficacy: Thought control of actions. Washington, DC: Hemisphere.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiebach, N. H., Viscoli, C. M., Horwitz, R. I. (1990). Differences between women and men in survival after myocardial infarction: Biology or methodology? Journal of the American Medical Association, 263, 1092–1096.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haynes, S. G., Feinleib, M., & Kannel, W. B. (1980). The relationship of psychosocial factors to coronary heart disease in the Framingham Study: Eight year incidence of coronary heart disease. American Journal of Epidemiology, 111, 37–58.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heitzmann, C. A., & Kaplan, R. M. (1988). Assessment of methods for measuring social support. Health Psychology, 7(1), 75–109.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, B. (1980). Natural support systems and coping with major life changes. American Journal of Community Psychology, 8, 159–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • House, J. S., Landis, K. R., & Umberson, D. (1988). Social relationships and health. Science, 241, 540–544.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • House, J. S., Robbins, C, & Metzner, H. C. (1982). The association of social relationships and activities with mortality: Perspective evidence from the Tecumseh community health study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 116(1), 123–140.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • House, J. S., Umberson, D, & Landis, K. R. (1988). Structures and processes of social support. Annual Review of Sociology, 14, 293–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ingersoll-Dayton, B., & Antonucci, T. C. (1988). Non-reciprocal social support: Another side of intimate relationships. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 43(3), 65–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Israel, B. A. (1982). Social networks and health status: Linking theory, research and practice. Patient Counseling and Health Education, 4(2), 65–79.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, J. S., & Antonucci, T. C. (in press). Survey methodology in life-span human development research. In S. H. Cohen & H. W. Reese (Eds.), Life-span developmental psychology: Methodological innovations (pp. 1-52). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, E.H. (1987). Behavioral factors associated with hypertension in black Americans. In S. Julius & D. R. Bassett (Eds.), Handbook of Hypertension, vol. 9: Behavioral factors in hypertension (pp. 181–197). Amsterdam: Elsevier Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, E. H., & Broman, C. L. (1987). The relationship of anger expression to health problems among black Americans in a national survey. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 10(2), 103–116.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, E. H., & Julius, S. (1990). Is there a hypertensive coronary-prone personality? In F. Buhler & J. Farosh (Eds.), Handbook of Hypertension, vol. 10: Management of hypertension (pp. 33–41). Amsterdam: Elsevier Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, J. (1980). Social affiliation, risk factor status, and coronary heart disease: A cross sectional study of Japanese-American men. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California, Berkeley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Julius, S., & Johnson, E. H. (1985). Stress, autonomic hyperactivity, and essential hypertension: An enigma. Journal of Hypertension, 3, 11–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, R. L., & Antonucci, T. C. (1980). Convoys over the lifecourse: Attachment, roles, and social support. In P. B. Baltes & Q. Brim (Eds.), Life-span development and behavior, vol. 3 (pp. 253–286). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lerner, R., & Ryff, C. (1978). Implementation of the life-span view of human development: The sample case of attachment. In P. B. Baltes (Ed.), Life-span development and behavior, vol. 1 (pp. 1–43). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levitt, M. J. (1991). Attachment and close relationships: A life span perspective. In J. L. Gewirtz & W. F. Kurtines (Eds.), Intersections with attachment (pp. 183–205). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, M., & Goldberg, S. (1969). Perceptual-cognitive development in infancy: A generalized expectancy model as a function of mother-infant interaction. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 15, 81–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Litwak, E. (1985). Helping the elderly. New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, K. (1982). Psychological perspectives on the Type A behavior pattern. Psychology Bulletin, 91, 293–323.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Medalie, J. H., & Goldbourt, U. (1976). Angina pectoris among 10,000 men: Psychosocial and other factors as evidenced by a multivariate analysis of a 5 year incidence study. American Journal of Medicine, 60, 910–921.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Norbeck, J. S., & Tilden, V. (1981). Life stress, social support, and emotional equilibrium in complications of pregnancy: A prospective multivariate study. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 30–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nuckolls, K. B., Cassel, J., & Kaplan, B. H. (1972). Psychosocial assets, life crisis and the prognosis of pregnancy. American Journal of Epidemiology, 95, 431–441.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Orth-Gomér, K., & Johnson, J. V. (1987). Social network interaction and mortality: A six year follow-up study of a random sample of the Swedish population. Journal of Chronic Disease, 40(10), 949–957.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parkes, C. M., & Stevenson-Hinde, J. (1982). The place of attachment in human behavior. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkes, C. M., Stevenson-Hinde, J., & Marris, P. (Eds.). (1991). Attachment across the life cycle, New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearlin, L. I. (1985). Social structure and processes of social support. In S. Cohen & S. L. Syme (Eds.), Social Support and Health (pp. 13–60). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed, D., McGee, D., Yano, K., & Feinleib, M. (1983). Social networks and coronary heart disease among Japanese men in Hawaii. American Journal of Epidemiology, 117, 384–396.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reed, D., McGee, D., & Yano, K. (1984). Psychosocial processes and general susceptibility to chronic disease. American Journal of Epidemiology, 119, 356–370.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rook, K. S. (1984). The negative side of social interaction: Impact on psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 1097–1108.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenman, R. H. (1987). Type A behavior and hypertension. In S. Julius & D. R. Bassett (Eds.), Handbook of hypertension, vol. 9: Behavioral factors in hypertension (pp. 141–149). Amsterdam: Elsevier Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruberman, W. (1992). Psychosocial influences on mortality of patients with coronary heart disease. Journal of the American Medical Association, 267, 559–560.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruberman, W., Weinblatt, E., Goldberg, J. D., & Chaudhary, B. S. (1984). Psychosocial influences on mortality after myocardial infarction. New England Journal of Medicine, 311, 552–559.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarason, B. R., Sarason, I. G., & Pierce, G. R. (Eds.). (1990). Social support: An interactional view. New York: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauer, W. J., & Coward, R. T. (Eds.). (1985). Social support networks and care of the elderly. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoenbach, V J., Kaplan, B. H., Freman, L., & Kleinbaum, D. G. (1986). Social ties and mortality in Evans County, Georgia. American Journal of Epidemiology, 123, 577–591.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seeman, T. E., & Syme, S. L. (1987). Social networks and coronary artery disease: A comparison of the structure and function of social relations as predictors of disease. Psychosomatic Medicine, 49, 340–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shumaker, S. A., & Brownell, A. (1984). Toward a theory of social support: Closing conceptual gaps. Journal of Social Issues, 40, 11–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sosa, R., Kennel, J., & Klaus, M. (1980). The effect of a supportive companion on perinatal problems, length of labor, and mother-infant interactions. New England Journal of Medicine, 305, 597–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wenger, N. K. (1990). Gender, coronary artery disease, and coronary bypass surgery. Annals of Internal Medicine, 112, 557–558.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker, J. K., & Garbarino, J. (1983). Social support networks: Informal helping in the human services. New York: Aldine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, R. B., Barefoot, J. C., Califf, R. M. (1992). Prognostic importance of social and economic resources among medically treated patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease. Journal of the American Medical Association, 267, 520–524.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48106, USA

    Toni C. Antonucci

  2. Department of Family Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, 30310-1495, USA

    Ernest H. Johnson

Authors
  1. Toni C. Antonucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ernest H. Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Sciences, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27103, USA

    Sally A. Shumaker

  2. Behavioral Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA

    Susan M. Czajkowski

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Antonucci, T.C., Johnson, E.H. (1994). Conceptualization and Methods in Social Support Theory and Research as Related to Cardiovascular Disease. In: Shumaker, S.A., Czajkowski, S.M. (eds) Social Support and Cardiovascular Disease. The Springer Series in Behavioral Psychophysiology and Medicine. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2572-5_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2572-5_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-2574-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-2572-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation