Would I have your support? Family network features and past support exchanges associated with anticipated support for a substance problem

ABSTRACT

Objective

Assessment of social processes underlying anticipation for recovery-related support from family in the event of a substance problem. We drew from literature on social support, substance use, and social networks to develop a path model connecting emotionally close family relationships, closeness among members in the wider family network (density), previous emotional support exchanges, and anticipated support.

Subjects and Methods

We used a sample from the 2019 Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey (284 adults; 57% female; 94% white; 46.26% living in rural areas) and employed generalized structural equation modeling with logistic regression equations for our binary dependent variable (anticipated support).

Results

Denser family networks were associated with individuals’ close relations with family (b = .18, p < .001), close family relations were associated with support received by (b = .25, p < .05) and given to (b = .47, p < .001) family, and only support given to family increased the odds of anticipated support (IRR = 4.32, CI = 1.13, 16.48).

Conclusions

Family-wide dynamics are important for understanding how support exchange relates to anticipated support. Prioritizing efforts to strengthen family relationships and improve the likelihood that at-risk individuals, especially in rural areas, can overcome substance problems is important.

KEYWORDS:

• Anticipated support
• substance use
• social support
• family
• density

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under grant P20 GM130461. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.