Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Social Support, Activities, and Recovery from Serious Mental Illness: STARS Study Findings

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Research on the role of social support in recovery from severe mental illness is limited and even more limited is research on the potential effects of participating in various activities. This study explores these relationships by analyzing baseline data from a 153-participant subsample in the Study of Transitions and Recovery Strategies. Higher scores on the recovery assessment scale were related to both social support/network size and engagement in more activities. The particular nature of the activities (more/less social, more/less physically active, inside/outside the home) was not important, rather, activities of any type were related to recovery. Furthermore, engagement in activities was more important as levels of social support declined. The results suggest that both social support and activities may promote recovery, and that for persons with poor social support, engagement in a variety of individualized activities may be particularly beneficial.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. White W, Boyle M, Loveland D. Recovery from addiction and from mental illness: shared and contrasting lessons. In: Ralph RO, Corrigan PW, eds. Recovery in Mental Illness: Broadening our Understanding of Wellness. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Mezzina R, Davidson L, Borg M, et al. The social nature of recovery: Discussion and implications for practice. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation. 2006;9:63–80. doi:10.1080/15487760500339436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Stansfeld SA. Social support and social cohesion. In: Marmot M, Wilkinson RG, eds. Social Determinants of Health, Second Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2006:148–171.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Breier A, Strauss JS. The role of social relationships in the recovery from psychotic disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry. 1984;141:949–955.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Onken SJ, Craig CM, Ridgway P, et al. An analysis of the definitions and elements of recovery: a review of the literature. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. 2007;31:9–22. doi:10.2975/31.1.2007.9.22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Corrigan PW, Giffort D, Rashid F, et al. Recovery as a psychological construct. Community Mental Health Journal. 1999;35:231–239. doi:10.1023/A:1018741302682.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Corrigan PW, Phelan SM. Social support and recovery in people with serious mental illnesses. Community Mental Health Journal. 2004;40:513–523. doi:10.1007/s10597-004-6125-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Pevalin DJ, Goldberg DP. Social precursors to onset and recovery from episodes of common mental illness. Psychological Medicine. 2003;33:299–306. doi:10.1017/S0033291702006864.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kendler KS, Walters EE, Kessler RC. The prediction of length of major depressive episodes: results from an epidemiological sample of female twins. Psychological Medicine. 1997;27:107–117. doi:10.1017/S0033291796003893.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lara ME, Leader J, Klein DN. The association between social support and course of depression: is it confounded with personality? Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 1997;106:478–482. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.106.3.478.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Johnson SL, Winett CA, Meyer B, et al. Social support and the course of bipolar disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 1999;108:555–557. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.108.4.555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Mancini MA, Hardiman ER, Lawson HA. Making sense of it all: consumer providers’ theories about factors facilitating and impeding recovery from psychiatric disabilities. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. 2005;29:48–55. doi:10.2975/29.2005.48.55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Morrow-Howell N, Hinterlong J, Rozario PA. Effects of volunteering on the well-being of older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences. 2003;58B:S137–S145.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Musick MA, Wilson J. Volunteering and depression: the role of psychological and social resources in different age groups. Social Science and Medicine. 2003;56:259–269. doi:10.1016/S0277-9536(02)00025-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ware JE, Kosinski M, Turner-Bowker DM. How to Score Version 2 of the SF-12 Health Survey (with a supplement documenting Version 1). Lincoln, RI: QualityMetric Incorporated; 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ware JE, Kosinski M, Keller SD. SF-12: How to Score the SF-12 Physical and Mental Health Summary Scales. Boston: The Health Institute, New England Medical Center; 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Tunis SL, Croghan TW, Heilman DK. Reliability, validity, and apllication of the medical outcomes study 36-item short-form health survey (SGF-36) in schizophrenic patients treated with olanzapine versus haloperidol. Medical Care. 1999;37:678–691. doi:10.1097/00005650-199907000-00008.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Becker M. A new patient focused index for measuring quality of life in persons with severe and persistent mental illness. Quality of Life Research. 1993;2:239–251. doi:10.1007/BF00434796.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Becker M. Qualiy-of-life instruments for severe chronic mental illness. Implications for pharmacotherapy. Pharmacoeconomics. 1995;7:229–237. doi:10.2165/00019053-199507030-00006.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Becker M. A US experience: consumer responsive quality of life measurement. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health. 1998;3(Suppl):41–58.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Crespo-Facorro B, Pelavo-Teran JM, Perez-Iglesias R, et al. Predictors of acute treatment response in patients with a first episode of non-affective psychosis: sociodemographics, premorbid and clinical variables. Journal of Psychiatric Research. 2007;41:659–666. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2006.05.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Leverich GS, Post RM, Keck PE, et al. The poor prognosis of childhood-onset bipolar disorder. Journal of Pediatrics. 2007;150:485–490. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2006.10.070.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. McEvoy JP, Lieberman JA, Perkins DO, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of olanzapine, quetiapine, and respiridone in the treatment of early psychosis: a randomized, double-blind 52-week comparison. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2007;164:1050–1060. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.164.7.1050.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Strous RD, Alvir JM, Robinson D, et al. Premorbid functioning in schizophrenia: relation to baseline symptoms, treatment response, and medication side effects. Schizophrenia Bulletin. 2004;30:265–278.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Beebe LH, Tian L, Morris N, et al. Effects of exercise on mental and physical health parameters of persons with schizophrenia. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 2005;26:661–676. doi:10.1080/01612840590959551.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (Recoveries from Severe Mental Illness, R01 MH062321). The authors would like to thank interviewers Sue Leung, Alison Firemark, David Castleton, and Micah Yarborough. We also thank analysts Elizabeth Shuster and Michael Leo, who helped prepare the data used in these analyses. In addition, we thank Hannah Cross and Robert Paulson for providing helpful contributions to earlier drafts.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Medicine, Institute for Health Policy Research, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9190, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Michael Hendryx PhD

  2. Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, 3800 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR, 97227-1110, USA

    Carla A. Green PhD, MPH

  3. Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Nancy A. Perrin PhD

Authors
  1. Michael Hendryx PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carla A. Green PhD, MPH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nancy A. Perrin PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Hendryx PhD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hendryx, M., Green, C.A. & Perrin, N.A. Social Support, Activities, and Recovery from Serious Mental Illness: STARS Study Findings. J Behav Health Serv Res 36, 320–329 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-008-9151-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-008-9151-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation