Social support in a large general population sample over the course of six years
Abstract Social support is an important resource that is assumed to buffer the effect of stressful events on health. The aims of this study were to test psychometric properties of the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument (ESSI), to investigate the impact of several sociodemographic and behavioral varia...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90703-y |
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| author | Andreas Hinz Peter Esser Diana Richter Antje Schönfelder Heide Glaesmer Antje Lehmann-Laue Svenja Heyne Katja Leuteritz Annekathrin Sender Franziska Springer Heide Götze Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf |
| author_facet | Andreas Hinz Peter Esser Diana Richter Antje Schönfelder Heide Glaesmer Antje Lehmann-Laue Svenja Heyne Katja Leuteritz Annekathrin Sender Franziska Springer Heide Götze Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf |
| author_sort | Andreas Hinz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Social support is an important resource that is assumed to buffer the effect of stressful events on health. The aims of this study were to test psychometric properties of the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument (ESSI), to investigate the impact of several sociodemographic and behavioral variables on social support, and to analyze changes in social support over a 6-year period. A sample of 9,681 people from the general population was examined at baseline, 4,987 of whom were surveyed at a follow-up examination six years later using the ESSI and several other questionnaires. The psychometric properties of the ESSI were good (Cronbach’s α = 0.91) and measurement invariance across gender and age could be established. High socioeconomic status, sharing a household with others, and employment resulted in high levels of social support. Tobacco smokers and alcohol drinkers reported having less social support than nonsmokers and non-drinkers. During the 6-year period, the mean level of social support remained nearly unchanged (d = 0.01). The data provide a framework for the interpretation and comparison of social support with other clinical and nonclinical populations. Public health initiatives should aim to prevent social isolation to improve public health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-200ca1a20b724366918652f6cdd048fd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-200ca1a20b724366918652f6cdd048fd2025-08-20T03:10:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-90703-ySocial support in a large general population sample over the course of six yearsAndreas Hinz0Peter Esser1Diana Richter2Antje Schönfelder3Heide Glaesmer4Antje Lehmann-Laue5Svenja Heyne6Katja Leuteritz7Annekathrin Sender8Franziska Springer9Heide Götze10Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf11Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of LeipzigDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of LeipzigDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of LeipzigDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of LeipzigDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of LeipzigDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of LeipzigDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of LeipzigDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of LeipzigDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of LeipzigDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of LeipzigDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of LeipzigDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of LeipzigAbstract Social support is an important resource that is assumed to buffer the effect of stressful events on health. The aims of this study were to test psychometric properties of the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument (ESSI), to investigate the impact of several sociodemographic and behavioral variables on social support, and to analyze changes in social support over a 6-year period. A sample of 9,681 people from the general population was examined at baseline, 4,987 of whom were surveyed at a follow-up examination six years later using the ESSI and several other questionnaires. The psychometric properties of the ESSI were good (Cronbach’s α = 0.91) and measurement invariance across gender and age could be established. High socioeconomic status, sharing a household with others, and employment resulted in high levels of social support. Tobacco smokers and alcohol drinkers reported having less social support than nonsmokers and non-drinkers. During the 6-year period, the mean level of social support remained nearly unchanged (d = 0.01). The data provide a framework for the interpretation and comparison of social support with other clinical and nonclinical populations. Public health initiatives should aim to prevent social isolation to improve public health.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90703-ySocial supportSociodemographic correlatesLongitudinal studySocial isolationGeneral population |
| spellingShingle | Andreas Hinz Peter Esser Diana Richter Antje Schönfelder Heide Glaesmer Antje Lehmann-Laue Svenja Heyne Katja Leuteritz Annekathrin Sender Franziska Springer Heide Götze Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf Social support in a large general population sample over the course of six years Scientific Reports Social support Sociodemographic correlates Longitudinal study Social isolation General population |
| title | Social support in a large general population sample over the course of six years |
| title_full | Social support in a large general population sample over the course of six years |
| title_fullStr | Social support in a large general population sample over the course of six years |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social support in a large general population sample over the course of six years |
| title_short | Social support in a large general population sample over the course of six years |
| title_sort | social support in a large general population sample over the course of six years |
| topic | Social support Sociodemographic correlates Longitudinal study Social isolation General population |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90703-y |
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