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Objectives: Financial strain represents a perceived inability to meet financial needs and obligations and is associated with poorer health outcomes. Distinct facets of perceived social support may mitigate the deleterious effects of financial strain on health. In the present study, we examined the extent to which appraisal, belonging, and tangible social support ameliorate the effects of financial strain on health-related quality of life (HRQoL)., Methods: A community sample (N = 238; 67.2% female; MAge = 43.4 years, SD = 13.1) completed inperson surveys as part of a larger study of health behaviors., Results: Greater financial strain and less social support were associated with poorer HRQoL. Additionally, both appraisal and belonging support moderated the effects of financial strain on some HRQoL components, such that higher appraisal and belonging support were associated with diminished effects of financial strain on HRQoL., Conclusions: These findings suggest nuanced associations between financial strain and HRQoL. We discuss the implications for prevention and intervention programs.

Nearly half of U.S. adults have health literacy (HL) difficulties, and lack the ability to effectively obtain, process, and understand health information. Poor HL is associated with depression, yet mechanisms of this relation are unclear. This study examined whether social support mediated the relation between HL and depressive symptoms in 200 low-socioeconomic status (SES), racially/ethnically diverse smokers enrolled in cessation treatment. Mediation analyses were conducted using bootstrapping and controlling for SES and nicotine dependence. In simple mediation models, social support [Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) total, subscales (Appraisal, Belonging, Tangible)] mediated the effect of HL on depression, such that lower HL was associated with lower perceived support, which predicted higher depressive symptoms (ps < .05). A multiple mediation model, with ISEL subscales entered simultaneously as mediators, was significant (p < .05) but only the Belonging subscale demonstrating independent significance (p < .05). Thus, social support may be a critical factor underlying the HL-depression relationship in low-SES, racially/ethnically diverse smokers.

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are prevalent among Black adults. Studies have demonstrated that functional social support buffers CVD risk. The objective of our study is to assess whether specific types of functional social support or their cumulative total buffers CVD risk factors among a convenience sample of Black adults, and whether these associations differ by sex or partner status., Design: Cross-sectional study using self-reported survey data., Setting: Large church in Houston, TX., Participants: A total of 1,381 Black adults reported their perceived social support using appraisal, belonging, and tangible subscales of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-12. A cumulative score was created based on the three subscales. Participants also reported on a number of sociodemographic characteristics., Main Outcome Measures: Three self-reported CVD risk factors: diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol (yes vs no)., Results: A series of multivariate logistic regressions controlling for sociodemographic characteristics were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for CVD risk factors. Cumulative social support, rather than any specific type of social support, was significantly related to diabetes and high blood pressure. Higher cumulative social support was associated with lower odds of experiencing diabetes (aOR = .97, 95% CI = .94, .99) and high blood pressure (aOR = .98, 95% CI = .95, .99). Neither sex nor partner status moderated associations., Conclusion: In a high risk population for CVD, increasing all types of social support--appraisal, belonging, and tangible--might be useful in preventing or delaying the onset of CVD.

Background: Social cohesion, the self-reported trust and connectedness between neighbors, may affect health behaviors via psychosocial mechanisms., Purpose: Relations between individual perceptions of social cohesion and smoking cessation were examined among 397 Black treatment-seeking smokers., Methods: Continuation ratio logit models examined the relation of social cohesion and biochemically verified continuous smoking abstinence through 6 months post-quit. Indirect effects were examined in single mediator models using a nonparametric bootstrapping procedure. All analyses controlled for sociodemographics, tobacco dependence, and treatment., Results: The total effect of social cohesion on continuous abstinence was non-significant (β = 0.05, p = 0.10). However, social cohesion was associated with social support, positive affect, negative affect, and stress, which, in turn, were each associated with abstinence in adjusted models (ps < 0.05)., Conclusions: Results suggest that social cohesion may facilitate smoking cessation among Black smokers through desirable effects on psychosocial mechanisms that can result from living in a community with strong interpersonal connections.

The article discusses a study which investigated the link between desolation, or loneliness, and self-measured health in African-Americans. It evaluates the possible indirect impact of stress and depression, and discusses several health issues including hypertension, high blood pressure and breast cancer. It also describes how the study was carried out, and suggests that desolation may be a factor in African-Americans' poor health.

Objectives: To evaluate a conceptual model of the psychosocial pathways linking socioeconomic status and body mass index (BMI) among smokers. Methods: A latent variable modeling approach was used to evaluate the interrelationships among socioeconomic status, perceived neighborhood disadvantage, social support, negative affect, and BMI among smokers recruited from the Houston metropolitan area (N = 424). Results: A total of 42.4% of participants were obese, with the highest prevalence of obesity among Latinos followed by African Americans. Across all racial/ethnic groups, perceived neighborhood disadvantage, social support, and negative affect functioned as pathways linking socioeconomic status and BMI. Conclusions: Findings indicate the need for interventions that target obesity among socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers and provide potential intervention targets for the prevention and treatment of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Associations between subjective social status, a subjective measure of socioeconomic status, and predictors of risk for postpartum smoking were examined among 123 pregnant women (aged 18-24 years) who stopped smoking because of pregnancy. The goal was to identify how subjective social status might influence the risk for postpartum smoking and to elucidate targets for intervention. Methods. We used multiple regression equations to examine the predictive relations between subjective social status and tobacco dependence, self-rated likelihood of postpartum smoking, confidence, temptations, positive and negative affect, depression, stress, and social support. Adjusted analyses were also conducted with control for race/ethnicity, education, income, and whether participant had a partner or not (partner status). Results. In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, subjective social status predicted tobacco dependence, likelihood of postpartum smoking, confidence, temptations, positive affect, negative affect, and social support. Adjusted analyses predicting depression and stress approached significance. Conclusions. Among young pregnant women who quit smoking because of pregnancy, low subjective social status was associated with a constellation of characteristics indicative of increased vulnerability to postpartum smoking. Subjective social status provided unique information on risk for postpartum smoking over and above the effects of race/ethnicity, objective socioeconomic status, and partner status. (Am J Public Health. 2007;97:1476-1482. doi:10.2105/AJPH. 2006.101295) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and smoking cessation. Topics covered include the neighborhood contextual factors underlying the SES-health relationship, neighborhood characteristics that predict smoking cessation rates, and the need to create comprehensive conceptual models that elucidate pathways between tobacco cessation and SES.