Social support affects physical health: CrossCurrents Autumn 2003

CrossCurrents

Social relationships are an important part of anyone's health and well-being. But for people with schizophrenia, they may be a matter of life or death. According to a study published in a 1999 issue of the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine, the social environment and amount of social support received by people with schizophrenia may affect how long they live. The study found that individuals with schizophrenia who had frequent social interaction lived on average 25 per cent longer than those with little or no social interaction.

Researchers examined the medical records of 133 Iowa Psychiatric Hospital inpatients with schizophrenia admitted between 1934 and 1944. All of the clients had died by the time of the study. The inpatients' social relationships were evaluated by looking at the number of relationships each individual had and assessing the quality and quantity of support from family and friends.

"We found that the quantity of support significantly predicted the longevity of the patients," says Dr. Alan Christensen, the study's lead author. "The frequency of daily interactions with support providers or confidants seemed to make a difference in these people's lives."

Christensen says these findings are consistent with other research that shows that social support contributes favourably to the body's immune system, as well as to cardiovascular and hormonal functions. Interestingly, the quality of social interactions, whether positive or negative had no impact on longevity.

The researchers also checked death records to determine each individual's date and cause of death. They found causes of death to be similar to those in the general population, with more than one-third dying from cardiovascular disease.

"The tendency has been to focus on the patient's psychiatric health, yet these individuals don't live as long as the general population," says Christensen. "We hope the study is a step toward examining factors that influence the long-term physical health of patients with psychiatric disorders."

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