The impact of social support on mental health: results from the Curacao health study

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to describe the relationship between perceived social support and mental health in Curacao. A random sample (n=2248) of the non-institutionalized adult population of Curacao was surveyed through face-to-face interviews, containing items on health, social support and background variables. The prevalence of psychological distress was about 20 percent. The prevalence was higher in women, widowed persons, the chronically ill and persons from the low socio-economic classes. Perceived social support was relatively low in young persons, divorced and single persons, the chronically ill and low education groups. There was a strong inverse relationship between perceived social support and psychological distress persons who feel they have low social support have more psychological distress. This relationship could be found in almost all subgroups, but is especially strong in young women. Prevention and intervention programmes should acknowledge the great impact of social support on mental health. In terms of prevention of psychological distress, people in stressful situations should be helped by reinforcing their social support (e.g. patient should be helped to improve their social support (e.g. halfway houses for (former) psychiatric patients) (AU)