Department of Sociology, University of Kentucky, USA.
Sociol Health Illn. 2012 Nov;34(8):1125-39. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9566.2012.01459.x. Epub 2012 Feb 14.
Existing research demonstrates a relationship between mental illness and social network attrition over time - a pattern attributed to dysfunctional psychosocial and interpersonal processes and rejection. Yet, according to the social network perspective, personal network dynamics naturally accompany important biographical transitions or events, suggesting that our current understanding of mechanisms underlying network instability in mental illness may be incomplete. This research uses data from the Indianapolis Network Mental Health Study, a longitudinal study of social network dynamics spanning five years. It focuses on in-depth interviews with 135 individuals making their first major contact with the mental health treatment system. First, levels of tie attrition and replacement in the core discussion networks of individuals with mental illness are compared to a sample with no self-reported history of mental illness. Second, using open-ended responses describing why specific individuals mentioned in previous waves were not listed again, respondents' explanations of attrition are analysed qualitatively. In addition to providing support for existing perspectives, the themes suggest a need to also consider: (i) interaction strategies that maximise the supportiveness of social networks and minimise burden and (ii) changing life circumstances external to social networks that influence opportunities for social interaction.
现有研究表明，精神疾病与社交网络随时间的损耗之间存在关联——这种模式归因于心理社会和人际过程的功能障碍以及排斥。然而，根据社交网络的观点，个人网络动态自然伴随着重要的传记式转变或事件，这表明我们目前对精神疾病网络不稳定性背后机制的理解可能不完整。本研究使用了印第安纳波利斯网络心理健康研究的数据，这是一项为期五年的社交网络动态纵向研究。它专注于对 135 名首次与心理健康治疗系统接触的个体进行深入访谈。首先，将精神疾病个体核心讨论网络中的联系损耗和更替水平与没有自我报告精神病史的样本进行比较。其次，通过描述在前几轮中提到的特定个体为何没有再次被列出的开放式回答，对受访者对损耗的解释进行定性分析。除了为现有观点提供支持外，这些主题还表明需要考虑：（i）最大化社交网络支持性并最小化负担的互动策略，以及（ii）影响社交互动机会的社交网络外部的生活环境变化。
