|
KMID : 0904520160430010033
|
|
Health and Medical Sociology
2016 Volume.43 No. 1 p.33 ~ p.62
|
|
|
Mind health in Korea: the effect of social support network types
|
|
Koo Hea-Ran
Park Sang-Hee
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
This paper aims to reveal how Koreans’ social support networks are structured and to analyze the relationships between types of social support network and individuals’ mind health. Previous research evidenced the existence of significant relationship between social support network and physical and mental health. Most of empirical studies, however, focuses on specific groups, such as elderly, women, patients, and lower class. Using a survey of Koreans over the age of 19 years old, we identify different types of social support network of Koreans overall and examine whether mind health is related to different types of support network. We operationalize mind health consisting of three elements; positive emotion, absence of negative emotion, and psychological flourishing. Latent class analysis produces four types of social support networks; partner centered, family-friends diversified, friends-relatives centered, and restricted. There are statistically significant differences in mind health across network types. The mind health levels are the highest for those who have a partner centered network, followed by those of family-friends diversified network, friends-relatives centered network. Those who have a restricted support network are the lowest in mind health. All three sub-elements of mind health shows significant differences across support network types. The differences are particularly noticeable in the absence of negative emotion and psychological flourishing. Those who have a restricted support network report lower level of positive emotion, higher level of negative emotion, and lower level of flourishing. The results imply that in order to improve mind health of Koreans, it may be necessary to reinforce alternative support networks including formal support networks.
|
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
|
social support network, mental health, positive emotion, absence of negative emotion, psychological flourishing
|
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
|
|