Abstract
There is evidence to suggest that social support may be an important resource for the mental and physical health of caregivers
and children affected by HIV/AIDS, especially in HIV-endemic areas of the developing world. Drawing from theory on social
relations and health, in this paper we argue that it is important to assess not only the existence and direction of associations,
but also the effects and processes explaining these. We refer to House et al’s (in Annu Rev Sociol 14;293–318, 1988) theoretical framework on social support structures and processes as a guide to present and discuss findings of a systematic
review of literature assessing the relationship between social support and health among caregivers living with HIV or caring
for HIV/AIDS-affected children. Findings confirm the importance of social support for health among this population, but also
expose the absence of empirical work deriving from the developing world, as well as the need for further investigation on
the biopsychosocial processes explaining observed effects.
and children affected by HIV/AIDS, especially in HIV-endemic areas of the developing world. Drawing from theory on social
relations and health, in this paper we argue that it is important to assess not only the existence and direction of associations,
but also the effects and processes explaining these. We refer to House et al’s (in Annu Rev Sociol 14;293–318, 1988) theoretical framework on social support structures and processes as a guide to present and discuss findings of a systematic
review of literature assessing the relationship between social support and health among caregivers living with HIV or caring
for HIV/AIDS-affected children. Findings confirm the importance of social support for health among this population, but also
expose the absence of empirical work deriving from the developing world, as well as the need for further investigation on
the biopsychosocial processes explaining observed effects.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Substantive Review
- Pages 1-21
- DOI 10.1007/s10461-012-0275-1
- Authors
- Marisa Casale, Health Economics and HIV and AIDS Research Division, University of Kwazulu-Natal, PO Box X54001, Durban, South Africa
- Lauren Wild, Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Journal AIDS and Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-3254
- Print ISSN 1090-7165