Psychological features of social support for people with problems of unsuccessful process of adaptation in society

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Psychological features of social support for people with problems of unsuccessful process of adaptation in society

Zavatska N.Y.

The article shows the study data of social support for people with different levels of social adaptation. There has been established significant reduction of major types of social support for all groups of the studied. The total rate of social support and index of social integration are lower among people with destructive degree of social disadaptation comparing to other groups of the studied.

Key words: personality, social support, social integration, social adaptation (disadaptation).

У статті наведені дані дослідження соціальної підтримки для людей з різним рівнем соціальної адаптації. Показано, що загальний коефіцієнт соціальної підтримки та індексу соціальної інтеграції нижче серед випробуваних із деструктивним ступенем соціальної дезадаптації у порівнянні з іншими групами досліджуваних

Ключові слова: особистість, соціальна підтримка, соціальна інтеграція, соціальна адаптація (дезадаптація).

В статье приведены данные исследования социальной поддержки для людей с разным уровнем социальной адаптации. Показано, что общий коэффициент социальной поддержки и индекса социальной интеграции ниже среди испытуемых с деструктивной степенью социальной дезадаптации по сравнению с другими группами испытуемых.

Ключевые слова: личность, социальная поддержка, социальная интеграция, социальная адаптация (дезадаптация).

Problem definition. Synthesis of different approaches to disclosure of adaptation and readaptation of an individual to conditions of social environment allows to make the conclusions about the need to understand this process from the systemic point of view. Judging from the systematic approach to the process of social adaptation of a personality, social support plays a crucial role in this process. According to researches (N.G. Garanyan, T.V. Dovzhenko, M. Becerra, E.Serafetinides, G. Sommer, S. Tydecks, T. Fydrich), criteria for psychological (emotional) social support include assessment of experience of positive sense of intimacy, trust and community; criteria, related to instrumental social support, presuppose assessment of practical, information or material (money, things) help; criteria, aimed at assessing the level of social integration, are determined by entry into a network of social interaction, presence of the reference group, within which there is a coincidence of values and perceptions of life, satisfaction with social support, associated with experience of stability in relations, and the sense of confidence and security [7; 11; 13].

Analysis of the recent researches and publications. Researchers (A.B. Kholmogorova, E. Brahler, T. Brugha, M.Greenblatt) have defined such components of social support: perceptibility of support (i.e. cognition (belief) that you are supported); reality of support and reciprocity of support; opportunity to appeal to those who will support and help, that is network of support; sources of support (carriers of roles (partners, relatives, etc.) [5, 8, 9, 10]. In our point of view, the inclusion of this component into the adaptive potential of an individual stipulates a positive effect of social relations and support.

According to researches (S.V. Volikova, N.G. Garanyan, A.B. Kholmogorova, T.Yu. Yudyeyeva), deficit of close supportive interpersonal relationships, formal, superficial contacts are closely related to the risk of various emotional disorders and social disadaptation. Researchers have defined such important aspects of social support as availability, associated with commonhuman's feeling that in case of unexpected or critical events you have someone to share these difficulties with; general satisfaction of a human with that social support which he/she receives; reciprocity of social support, its frequency and regularity. The content of social support is made up of psychological support (emotional, cognitive, focused on self-esteem, etc.) and instrumental support (advice, information, job, money, and so on) [6; 7].

The appropriate level of social support is possible under the following conditions: firstly, preservation of local informal communication network - positive relations with immediate surroundings; secondly, normal functioning of the organizational structure, forming professional adaptative potential, required for various negative situations; and formation of adequate ideas about the possibilities and conditions for being helped in the public consciousness. In the current Ukrainian society one can hypothetically assume the existence of only the first one of the abovementioned factors - pervasive presence of informal communicational networks in the micro-environment. The other factor - normal functioning of the relevant organizationally-professional structure - requires the development and psychological explanation.

As it is well known, system of affirmations and beliefs, assimilated under the influence of family experience, mostly defines relations with other people. This thesis has been developed in many concepts: in the attachment theory of J. Bowlby, interpersonal psychotherapy by G. Klermana, cognitive therapy of A. Beck, relationship theory of V.M. Myasyshcheva and has received its confirmation in empirical studies [1; 2; 4; 12, etc.].

On the basis of these studies and our own experience of work with the socially disadaptated studied there has been made a hypothesis about narrowing of their interpersonal relations and low level of social support. Results of the study of features of motivationally-value, emotionally-volitional and individually-typological areas of the socially disadaptated studied may also serve the proof of this hypothesis: a high level of aggressiveness and hostility hinder the establishment of close trustful contacts with others. Excessive demands on other people, with a critical attitude towards them, don't allow to see and to appreciate good, bringing shortcomings and failures on the foreground. In addition, disrupted emotional communication in the family, induction of distrust to people, emotional expression difficulties also complicate interpersonal contacts [3].

The purpose of the article is to reveal the diagnostic features of social support under disruptions of the process of socio-psychological adaptation.

The main tasks of the article lie in the definition of features of emotional and instrumental support, level of social integration, as well as in identifying existing sources of support, extent and nature of social contacts of the studied with varying degrees of social adaptation.

Presentation of the basic materials. The following methods have been used to conduct the study: a) for determining the characteristics of emotional and instrumental support, social integration: social support questionnaire F-SOZU-22 (G. Sommer and T. Fydrich), adapted by A.B. Kholmogorova and others; b) for identifying available sources of support, extent and nature of social contacts, and verification of data of social support questionnaire regarding the level of emotional and instrumental support "Integrative questionnaire of social network" designed by T. Dovzhenko has been used [5; 6; 8; 9].

The sample of the studied of Mental Health Centers consisted of people who had returned from imprisonment in number of 118 (22.6%) people; participants in armed operations in amount of 108 (20.6%) men; persons who had lost their addiction to psychotropic substances and were at remission - in amount of 132 (25.4%) people (90 (17.3%) alcohol addicts and 42 (8.1%) drug addicts at remission). The sample of the studied of the city Employment Center consisted of military personnel, retired or reserved in number of 164 (31.4%) people. The investigation at this stage included 522 adult men (from 40 to 51 years).

Here are the research data of the level of social support of the socio-adapted studied and those with partial social adaptation (questionnaire F-SOZU-22).

Table 1

Characteristics of Social Support of the Socially Adapted Studied and Those with Partial Social Adaptation

The self-report about social support testify of a significant reduction of its general level of the studied with partial social adaptation. They receive significantly less emotional support comparing to socially adapted, i.e. there is shortage of positive feeling of intimacy, trust and community. They also have reduced support in the form of social integration - involvement in a network of social interactions in which coincidence of values and ideas about life; and common interests and hobbies are revealed.

The data in Table 1 indicate that the studied groups hardly differ according to index "instrumental support" and "satisfaction with social support." At the same time the studied with partial social adaptation have the violated deep and trusting relations with others, characterizing the high level of emotional support: indexes "emotional support" and "social integration" (sense of community with others) are significantly lower of partially adapted comparing to the socially adapted. High index of instrumental support can be explained by the nature of problems, which is dominated by somatic symptoms of former participants in armed operations and the studied which are at remission after alcohol addiction; that makes the others help and thus make their detention easier. It can be assumed that high level of instrumental support is indirect reinforcement of the pattern of somatic illness through its relative advantage. Interestingly, the studied hardly realize deficiency of emotional support as a problem - their index of satisfaction with social support does not differ from the index of the socially adapted. It can serve as an indirect confirmation of the special structure of cognitive-affective sphere, known as "operational thinking» (Nemiah, Sifneos). Operational thinking is reflected in the overwhelming fixation on the external, material aspects of life which include instrumental support. At such habit of thought the internal emotional life is not taken into consideration and ignored, that is why deficiency of emotional support cannot be realized. The data of the research of indexes of social support of the studied with partial social adaptation and total degree of social disadaptation (questionnaire F-SOZU-22) are shown in Table 2.

The data of the research of indexes of social support of the studied with partial social adaptation and destructive degree of social disadaptation (questionnaire F-SOZU-22) are shown in Table 3.

As it is shown in Tables 2 and 3 the results of measuring of social support of the studied with total and destructive degrees of social disadaptation reveal significant differences in all characteristics of social support comparing to the socially adapted studied. They have the reduced levels of emotional and instrumental support; they consider themselves to be less integrated into society than socially adapted.

The level of satisfaction with social support indicates that they do not suffer from its deficiency. Comparing the results of the research of these groups, significant statistical differences have been revealed: patients with destructive degree of social disadaptation have significantly lower general index of social support and index of satisfaction with social support.

Table 2

Characteristics of Social Support of Persons with Partial Social Adaptation and Total Degree of Social Disadaptation

М - midvalue; SD - standard deviation *when р<0,05 (criterion of Mann-Whitney)

As we have found more dysfunctions in the family system of these studied, it is logically to assume that their relations with people are more disrupted than those of the studied with total degree of social disadaptation. Results of the study of level of social support in both groups of the studied confirm this assumption.

Table 3

Characteristics of Social Support of Persons with Partial Social Adaptation and Destructive Degree of Social Disadaptation

М - midvalue; SD - standard deviation

*when р<0,05; ***when р<0,001 (criterion of Mann-Whitney)

Indicators of the questionnaire of perceived social support varied and were completed by data of integrative questionnaire of social network that gave more accurate information concerning the extent of actually received social support, as it was aimed at identifying specific number of people in the network and nature of relations with them.

Characteristic of the social network of the studied with partial social adaptation and the socially adapted studied (integrative questionnaire "Social Network") is shown in Table 4.

Table 4

Characteristics of Social Network of the Socially Adapted Studied and the Studied with Partial Social Adaptation

М - midvalue; SD - standard deviation

*when р<0,05; ***when р<0,010 (criterion of Mann-Whitney)

As it is shown in Table 4, there are significant differences between the studied with partial social adaptation and the socially adapted studied according to social network. In addition, there is a tendency to limit the number of people, with which the partially adapted are in close relations that is expressed in such index as core of social network. social support adaptation society

There are no differences in the indexes of average frequency of instrumental and emotional support of the studied with partial social adaptation and the socially adapted studied which are tested by the question: "How often a loved one gives you an appropriate help?" Answers: "never," "sometimes," "often", "very often" are about equally divided among the studied with partial social adaptation and the socially adapted studied. However, the level of emotional support, which is measured by the number of people who provide it, is lower at the level of tendency among the studied with partial social adaptation, that is the social network of these studied has fewer people with whom they share their experiences in order to discuss, understand and feel warmth. At the same time, the average number of people, who are the source of instrumental support, does not significantly differ from group norms among the studied with partial social adaptation.

While communicating with people from their social network the studied with partial social adaptation differ in average frequency of contacts with relatives from the socially adapted studied at the level of tendency to statistical significance, meaning they rarely come in contact with their relatives than the socially adapted. The average number of their contacts with other people (not relatives) does not differ from the norm. The absolute number of their contacts is also less due to the narrowed social network.

Results of the study of the level of social support of the studied with total and destructive degree of social disadaptation (questionnaire F-SOZU-22) are presented in Table 5.

Table 5

Characteristics of Social Support of the Socially Adapted Studied and Individuals with Total and Destructive Degree of Social Disadaptation

М - midvalue; SD - standard deviation

*when р<0,05; ***when р<0,010 (criterion of Mann-Whitney)

Integrative questionnaire of social network has let not only assess the perceived level of support on the basis of self-report of the studied, but identify specific individuals with whom they are connected and from which they can get emotional and instrumental support, that is present the extent of the received support from the immediate circle a bit more objectively. In this questionnaire they are requested to name and list specific names of people with whom they are linked, and tell in what relations with these people they are (whether these relations are trustworthy, what is the frequency of contacts, etc.). Basing on these questions there is defined "core of the network" - people who represent the main source of different types of support.

The studied with the total degree of social disadaptation have smaller size and core of social network at the level of tendency. They also have a tendency to limit trusting relations with others. It is more difficult for them to give emotional and instrumental support to other people than for the socially adapted, as it is shown in the index of symmetry of contacts.

The data of the questionnaire of social network generally correspond to the data of the questionnaire of social support.

All the indexes of scales of social support questionnaire vary among the investigated with total and destructive degree of social disadaptation from the indexes of the socially adapted studied at a high level of importance. There is also deficiency of social contacts, instrumental and emotional support, trustworthy relations with other people; they lack a sense of belonging to some reference group. The studied with destructive degree of social disadaptation have significantly lower general index of perceived social support, and index of social integration.

Analysis of the study of the results of social support of the socially disadaptated studied indicates significant differences at all parameters of social support compared with a group of the socially adapted individuals. They have reduced levels of emotional and instrumental support, degree of social integration in the society than the socially adapted (ф = 2,23; r<0,01). Thus, the studied with destructive degree of social disadaptation have significantly lower index of social support (71,5 ± 4,2 points) and index (4,4 ± 2,2 points) of satisfaction with social support (p <0.05). There have been revealed significant differences in size of social network and number of people in the core of network of the studied with total and destructive degree of social disadaptation (r<0,01). Frequency of their contacts with relatives is significantly lower compared with the socially adapted and partially adapted studied (ф = 2,69; r<0,001). In addition, the socially disadaptated studied tend to limit trusting relations with others. It is more difficult for them to provide emotional and instrumental support than for the socially adapted, as analysis of symmetry of contacts testify (r<0,01). The data of integrative social network questionnaire correlate with the data of social support questionnaire (r = 0,81; r<0,05).

Conclusions

Thus, the study of interpersonal social components of adaptive potential of the socially adapted and the disadaptated studied with the help of social network questionnaire has revealed significant reductions in all types of perceived social support; moreover, general index of social support and index of social integration in the group of people with destructive degree of social disadaptation with other groups of the studied. According to the data of social network questionnaire, both groups (with total and destructive degree of social disadaptation) have the narrowing of social ties - significantly less number of people in social network and its core (the main source of emotional support) compared with the socially adapted. Significant differences from the socially adapted studied in the number of people who provide instrumental support and frequency of contacts with relatives have been also found among the studied with total degree of social disadaptation with the help of social network questionnaire. People with destructive degree of social disadaptation have the reduced number of trustworthy relations and symmetry in relations with others concerning providing instrumental and emotional support. They neither get it, nor provide it.

The study of level of social support and interpersonal interaction characteristics has showed that social disadaptation of mature people is always accompanied by problems of microsocial cooperation in the family and usually in professional team. Such features of interpersonal interaction have been revealed: low level of empathy, lack of communication skills, communicative passivity. There is narrowing of social ties - significantly less number of people in social network and its core (the main source of emotional support) compared with the socially adapted individuals. Significant differences in number of persons who provide instrumental support and frequency of contacts with relatives have been revealed. Number of trustworthy relations and symmetry in relations with others are decreased concerning providing instrumental and emotional support.

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