Area social fragmentation, social support for individuals and psychosocial health in young adults: Evidence from a national survey in England
Area social fragmentation, social support for individuals and psychosocial health in young adults: Evidence from a national survey in England
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DOI：
10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.07.032
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发表时间：
2008-01-01
影响因子：
5.4
通讯作者：
Arephin, Muna
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Fagg, James;Curtis, Sarah;Arephin, Muna
本文使用全国性的调查数据，在英格兰的年轻人探索经验之间的关系，社会分裂的社区（测量的地理区域），社会支持的个人经历了从他们的直接社交圈，和年轻人的心理健康。在回顾了以前的研究，这些协会，我们采用了实证方法来解决这些问题，这是创新的使用数据从不同的来源对个人的调查数据的地区社会分裂。此外，我们还研究了个人社会支持和地区社会分裂之间的相互作用，以及他们的独立协会与健康的心理健康的相关性。为了检验这些想法的经验，我们提出了一个统计分析，使用的调查数据，从全国健康调查英格兰16-24岁的年轻人，与社会分裂的地理指标，来自人口普查和物质贫困的措施。结果变量是一般健康问卷（GHQ）测量的痛苦。在一个逻辑回归模型中，我们控制了地区内个人的分组，包括个人的性别，种族群体，就业状况，社会阶层和教育水平的数据。控制这些指标，我们表明，个人的痛苦（由GHQ评分为3 +表示）的风险是显着的，积极的区域社会分裂和有一个显着的关联与社会支持内收到的个人的直接社交圈，这是负面的（“保护”）。一个人居住地区的物质贫困指数并不能预测个人的痛苦。没有证据表明社会支持在社会分裂最严重的地区更具“保护性”。我们还注意到，虽然在这个样本中，就业与更好的心理健康有关，但较高的教育水平与更差的平均痛苦水平有关（控制年龄）。我们认为一些政策的影响的调查结果。(c)2007爱思唯尔有限公司保留所有权利。
This paper uses national survey data for young adults in England to explore empirically the relationships between social fragmentation in communities (measured for geographical areas), social support experienced by individuals from their immediate social circle, and psychosocial health of young adults. After reviewing previous research about these associations, we adopted an empirical approach to these questions, which was innovative in using data on area social fragmentation from a different source to the survey data on individuals. Also, we have examined the relevance for mental health of interactions between individual social support and area social fragmentation, as well as their independent associations with health. To test these ideas empirically, we present a statistical analysis, using survey data from the national Health Survey for England on Young people aged 16-24 years, linked to a geographical indicator of social fragmentation, derived from the population census and with a measure of material poverty. The outcome variable was distress measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). In a logistic regression model that controls for grouping of individuals within areas we included data on individuals' sex, ethnic group, employment status, social class and educational level. Controlling for these indicators, we demonstrate that risk of individual distress (indicated by GHQ score of 3 +) was significantly and positively associated with area social fragmentation and there was a significant association with social support received within the individual's immediate social circle, which was negative ('protective'). An index of material poverty in one's area of residence did not predict individual distress. There was no evidence that social support was more 'protective' in areas of greatest social fragmentation. We also note that while being in employment was associated with better mental health in this sample, higher educational level was associated with worse average levels of distress (controlling for age). We consider some of the policy implications of the findings. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.