Volume 21, Issue 82 (11-2021)
refahj 2021, 21(82): 189-218 |
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najafi M, gholipour M, pahlavan M, heydarabadi A. (2021). An investigation into the Relationship between Social Support and Social Health among Well-being Clients in Nowshahr. refahj. 21(82), 189-218.
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URL: http://refahj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-3865-en.html
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Intorduction: Health and well-being in its broadest sense is a phenomenon that is of interest to all human beings, social groups, and human societies. Health has been described and explained in a variety of discourses that are socially structured. “Although the concepts of health, mind, and body have been different in different places and times, for all cultures and societies, they have played a key role in human life experiences” . Dubus defines health as “ a sign of relative lack of pain and discomfort and adaptation to ensure the best performance (Mehri, 1390: 58). Considering health as a concept affected by a complex set of biological, psychosocial, cultural, economic, religious, and environmental factors, it must be acknowledged that in this sense, health is no longer the only concern of medical practitioners, but of all scientists. Socialists, especially anthropologists, sociologists, and psychologists are interested in studying it. On the other hand, the important goals of the health system in each country is to ensure, maintain, and promote the health and quality of life of all members of society, and the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of social support on social health (Case study: Welfare clients in Nowshahr) in 1399.
Method: The present study is applied in terms of purpose, and it can be referred to as a survey in terms of implementation method. The study population consisted of welfare clients aged 18 to 60 years old living in Nowshahr. The sample size was determined using Cochran’s formula, 350 people were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire at two levels of independent and dependent variables. Validity coefficient and reliability of independent variable was found to be 0.79, and the validity and reliability of the dependent variable reached 0.95.. The obtained data were analyzed using Spss25 and Amose25 software at descriptive and inferential levels
Findings: This study was evaluated by using inferential statistics on the relationship between social support variables, emotional dimension of social support, instrumental dimension of social support, and information dimension of social support with the dependent variable of research, social health, and the relationship of all the variables was confirmed.
Table 2: Frequency distribution of respondents according to individual characteristics
According to Table 2, out of a total of 350 people studies in this research, 176 people (3.50) are single, 160 people (7.45) are married, and 14 people (0.4%) are divorced. Among them, 134 people equal to 7.46 people were under the age of 30, and 134 people equal to 4.42 people were between the ages of 31 to 40, and 20 people equal to 5.6 people were between the ages of 41 to 50, and 8 people were equal to 6.3 people. Percentages are above the age of 50, which is the lowest frequency of the collection. In the job unit, 156 people (44.6%) are housewives, 120 people (34.3%) are employees of private companies, and 74 people (21.1%) are employees of government departments (civil servants), which is the lowest frequency of the collection.
Table 3. Inferential findings of research variables
The results of Pearson correlation test show that there is a positive and significant relationship between all variables i.e., between independent research variables, which are social support, emotional dimension of social support, instrumental dimension of social support, and information dimension of social support with research dependent variable, social health (Table 3).
The results obtained from the test of coefficients of variables show that the obtained coefficients of social support are equal to 0.378, the emotional dimension of social support is equal to 0.264, the instrumental dimension of social support is equal to 0.288, and then social support information was equal to 0.476, which shows that the amount of each unit that is added to the independent variable, the same amount is added to the dependent variable of the research i.e., the amount of social health of welfare clients in Nowshahr city, and the social health of clients increased.
Table 4: Factor load of fitted independent variable dimensions
Table 5: Main pattern fit indices
Discussion: In the research model, the amount of chi-square is 1.820 and less than 3. Also, the root value of the estimated variance of the approximation error (RMSEA) is 0.041 and less than 0.08. Similarly, the adaptive fitness index (CFI), equal to 0.995, is in a very desirable range. The model shows a good fit and it is approved. The present study used the 33-item Social Health Scale to measure social health and its components, five of which include cohesion, acceptance, prosperity, participation, and social adaptation, developed by Keys (1998). According to this questionnaire, the social health index of welfare clients in Nowshahr city was created. According to the results of this study, it was found that social support has a direct and effective effect on the level of social health of welfare clients in Nowshahr. In fact, social support in its various dimensions includes emotional support, information support, instrumental support, and it is also an effective factor in promoting social health and feeling well, improving the quality of life, and social health of welfare clients in Nowshahr city; therefore, it is necessary to intervene in this regard to improve the situation. In general, the measures that should be taken to increase the level of social support in its various dimensions will be a kind of strengthening and complementary to each other and will directly or indirectly lead to the promotion of social health of welfare clients in Nowshahr.
Intorduction: Health and well-being in its broadest sense is a phenomenon that is of interest to all human beings, social groups, and human societies. Health has been described and explained in a variety of discourses that are socially structured. “Although the concepts of health, mind, and body have been different in different places and times, for all cultures and societies, they have played a key role in human life experiences” . Dubus defines health as “ a sign of relative lack of pain and discomfort and adaptation to ensure the best performance (Mehri, 1390: 58). Considering health as a concept affected by a complex set of biological, psychosocial, cultural, economic, religious, and environmental factors, it must be acknowledged that in this sense, health is no longer the only concern of medical practitioners, but of all scientists. Socialists, especially anthropologists, sociologists, and psychologists are interested in studying it. On the other hand, the important goals of the health system in each country is to ensure, maintain, and promote the health and quality of life of all members of society, and the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of social support on social health (Case study: Welfare clients in Nowshahr) in 1399.
Method: The present study is applied in terms of purpose, and it can be referred to as a survey in terms of implementation method. The study population consisted of welfare clients aged 18 to 60 years old living in Nowshahr. The sample size was determined using Cochran’s formula, 350 people were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire at two levels of independent and dependent variables. Validity coefficient and reliability of independent variable was found to be 0.79, and the validity and reliability of the dependent variable reached 0.95.. The obtained data were analyzed using Spss25 and Amose25 software at descriptive and inferential levels
| Variable | Number of items | Alpha coefficient |
| social solidarity | 7 | 0.825 |
| social acceptance | 7 | 0.878 |
| social participation | 6 | 0.773 |
| Social adaptation | 6 | 0.738 |
| Social flourishing | 7 | 0.718 |
| Total social health | 33 | 0.772 |
| social support | 15 | 0.766 |
| The emotional dimension of social support | 5 | 0.698 |
| The instrumental dimension of social support | 5 | 0.701 |
| The social dimension information dimension | 5 | 0.723 |
Findings: This study was evaluated by using inferential statistics on the relationship between social support variables, emotional dimension of social support, instrumental dimension of social support, and information dimension of social support with the dependent variable of research, social health, and the relationship of all the variables was confirmed.
Table 2: Frequency distribution of respondents according to individual characteristics
| Variables | Categories | Abundance | Percentage |
| Marital status |
Single | 176 | 3/50 |
| Married | 160 | 7/45 | |
| Divorced | 14 | 0/4 | |
Age |
Under 30 | 164 | 7/46 |
| 31 until the 40 | 134 | 4/42 | |
| 41 until the 50 | 20 | 6/5 | |
| 50 to the top | 8 | 3//6 | |
| Job | Housekeeper | 156 | 6/44 |
| Unemployed | 120 | 3/34 | |
| Government employee | 74 | 1/21 |
According to Table 2, out of a total of 350 people studies in this research, 176 people (3.50) are single, 160 people (7.45) are married, and 14 people (0.4%) are divorced. Among them, 134 people equal to 7.46 people were under the age of 30, and 134 people equal to 4.42 people were between the ages of 31 to 40, and 20 people equal to 5.6 people were between the ages of 41 to 50, and 8 people were equal to 6.3 people. Percentages are above the age of 50, which is the lowest frequency of the collection. In the job unit, 156 people (44.6%) are housewives, 120 people (34.3%) are employees of private companies, and 74 people (21.1%) are employees of government departments (civil servants), which is the lowest frequency of the collection.
Table 3. Inferential findings of research variables
| independent variable | Dependent variable: social health | |||
| The correlation coefficient | Significance level | Type of test | Result | |
| social support | 378/0 | 000/0 | Pearson | Accept |
| The emotional dimension of social support | 264/0 | 000/0 | Pearson | Accept |
| The instrumental dimension of social support | 288/0 | 000/0 | Pearson | Accept |
| The social dimension information dimension | 476/0 | 000/0 | Pearson | Accept |
The results of Pearson correlation test show that there is a positive and significant relationship between all variables i.e., between independent research variables, which are social support, emotional dimension of social support, instrumental dimension of social support, and information dimension of social support with research dependent variable, social health (Table 3).
The results obtained from the test of coefficients of variables show that the obtained coefficients of social support are equal to 0.378, the emotional dimension of social support is equal to 0.264, the instrumental dimension of social support is equal to 0.288, and then social support information was equal to 0.476, which shows that the amount of each unit that is added to the independent variable, the same amount is added to the dependent variable of the research i.e., the amount of social health of welfare clients in Nowshahr city, and the social health of clients increased.
Table 4: Factor load of fitted independent variable dimensions
| Items | Factor load | Items | Factor load |
| Social health | Social support | ||
| social solidarity | 77/0 | The emotional dimension of social support | 43/0 |
| social acceptance | 77/0 | The instrumental dimension of social support | 63/0 |
| social participation | 39/0 | The social dimension information dimension | 96/0 |
| Social adaptation | 64/0 | ------------- | ----- |
| Social flourishing | 62/0 | ------------- | ----- |
Table 5: Main pattern fit indices
| Indicators | Acceptable amount | The amount of research findings | Desirability |
| RMSEA | 041/0 | Model approval | |
| Chi-square | - | 461/5 | - |
| p-value | 141/0 | Model approval | |
| Df | - | 3 | - |
| 820/1 | Model approval | ||
| Cfi | 995/0 | Model approval |
Discussion: In the research model, the amount of chi-square is 1.820 and less than 3. Also, the root value of the estimated variance of the approximation error (RMSEA) is 0.041 and less than 0.08. Similarly, the adaptive fitness index (CFI), equal to 0.995, is in a very desirable range. The model shows a good fit and it is approved. The present study used the 33-item Social Health Scale to measure social health and its components, five of which include cohesion, acceptance, prosperity, participation, and social adaptation, developed by Keys (1998). According to this questionnaire, the social health index of welfare clients in Nowshahr city was created. According to the results of this study, it was found that social support has a direct and effective effect on the level of social health of welfare clients in Nowshahr. In fact, social support in its various dimensions includes emotional support, information support, instrumental support, and it is also an effective factor in promoting social health and feeling well, improving the quality of life, and social health of welfare clients in Nowshahr city; therefore, it is necessary to intervene in this regard to improve the situation. In general, the measures that should be taken to increase the level of social support in its various dimensions will be a kind of strengthening and complementary to each other and will directly or indirectly lead to the promotion of social health of welfare clients in Nowshahr.
Type of Study: method |
Received: 2021/03/10 | Accepted: 2021/10/20 | Published: 2021/11/23
Received: 2021/03/10 | Accepted: 2021/10/20 | Published: 2021/11/23
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