Social Support Research Paper
THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT IN COPING WITH HIV/AIDS
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic disease of the human immune system. An HIV/AIDS diagnosis has been linked in several cases to increased rates of depression (Mizuno, Purcell, Dawson-Rose, Parsons & The SUDIS Team, 2003) and to a decrease in the quality of life of one diagnosed with the disease if they fail to find a proper coping mechanism. This essay will mainly focus on the perspectives of social support and how they can affect the way an individual copes with such a diagnosis and how the surrounding environment also assists with the adaptation. Coping is essential to help individuals deal with the debilitating effects …show more content…
Social support can be obtained from either professional care givers or from loved ones, family and friends. For people who are experiencing stressful life events or might have a chronic illness social support has been identified as a key coping resource. Informational social support helps inform the patient on more information with regards to the disease and how they can adapt to this without having to undergo drastic changes. Emotional support is offering empathy, love and showing concern showing concern when someone is distressed and is finding it difficult to cope with the disease. Psychological support is very much similar with emotional support in the sense that it helps one deal with it in a way that would help them retain mental …show more content…
Social support can be an important tool in designing interventions to help co[e with the disease. Tailoring coping assessments at progressive stages of the infection which makes it possible to know which type of social support would be most beneficial to the individual and the care givers. Social support must also be offered to close family members as well, Schreurs and De Ridder (1997)noted that when one gets diagnosed with a chronic disorder it might affect the close relationships one has with other people because of the separation anxiety that accompanies the diagnosis. This anxiety would then worsen the situation on the individual who has the disease. Another aspect which needs more attention is in depth analysis of the negative effects that social support has and how it affects everyone involved, that is, the patient, the patients close family and friends and the care
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic disease of the human immune system. An HIV/AIDS diagnosis has been linked in several cases to increased rates of depression (Mizuno, Purcell, Dawson-Rose, Parsons & The SUDIS Team, 2003) and to a decrease in the quality of life of one diagnosed with the disease if they fail to find a proper coping mechanism. This essay will mainly focus on the perspectives of social support and how they can affect the way an individual copes with such a diagnosis and how the surrounding environment also assists with the adaptation. Coping is essential to help individuals deal with the debilitating effects …show more content…
Social support can be obtained from either professional care givers or from loved ones, family and friends. For people who are experiencing stressful life events or might have a chronic illness social support has been identified as a key coping resource. Informational social support helps inform the patient on more information with regards to the disease and how they can adapt to this without having to undergo drastic changes. Emotional support is offering empathy, love and showing concern showing concern when someone is distressed and is finding it difficult to cope with the disease. Psychological support is very much similar with emotional support in the sense that it helps one deal with it in a way that would help them retain mental …show more content…
Social support can be an important tool in designing interventions to help co[e with the disease. Tailoring coping assessments at progressive stages of the infection which makes it possible to know which type of social support would be most beneficial to the individual and the care givers. Social support must also be offered to close family members as well, Schreurs and De Ridder (1997)noted that when one gets diagnosed with a chronic disorder it might affect the close relationships one has with other people because of the separation anxiety that accompanies the diagnosis. This anxiety would then worsen the situation on the individual who has the disease. Another aspect which needs more attention is in depth analysis of the negative effects that social support has and how it affects everyone involved, that is, the patient, the patients close family and friends and the care