{
  "abstract": "Objectives Social support influences health outcomes for individuals with chronic conditions, yet there is variability in how it is conceptualised and operationalised in health research. We examined how social support is conceptualised, measured and addressed through health interventions.Design Scoping review.Data sources PubMed/Medline, Elsevier EMBASE, NIBAHL and APA PsycInfo.Eligibility criteria Studies were included if they examined the effects of an intervention that aimed to build or strengthen social support in an adult population with a chronic health condition or disability.Data extraction and synthesis We extracted data on study characteristics (study design, sample size, diagnostic group), social support outcome measures, social support domains addressed and intervention characteristics.Results Across 110 studies, interventions predominantly addressed emotional support (85.1%) and informational support (54.4%), with limited attention to tangible support (5.3%). Despite previous research suggesting that affectionate support and positive social interaction are highly valued social support domains, these were addressed less often. Interventions were predominantly delivered in dyadic formats (43.9%), by peer supporters (35.1%) and mental health professionals (35.4%). Psychosocial skills development and social network expansion were the most frequently employed intervention components, each included in 45.6% of interventions. Relationship quality was the primary focus of social support assessment tools.Conclusions This review suggests that social support is most commonly conceptualised as a dynamic relational process built on emotional connection and shared experiences, rather than merely the assistance provided. Future interventions should better integrate affectionate support and positive social interaction, along with adaptability to accommodate cultural and social preferences.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Jessica Kersey"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Sangjin Lee"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Lisa Tabor Connor"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Sarah Shyres"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Elnaz Alimi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Noemi Rojas Serrano"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Moon Young Kim"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan"
      ],
      "name": "Phan Van Sang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Noelle Casem"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Christian Le"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Bernard Becker Medical Library, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Kim Lipsey"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "John G Rangos Sr School of Health Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Elena Donoso Brown"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Conceptualisation and operationalisation of social support in health interventions: a scoping review",
  "uid": "1e0879ef-972d-5c9f-8b05-a70c577428d5"
}