Social support and subjective health complaints among patients participating in an occupational rehabilitation program

Abstract

Objectives: To examine differences in rehabilitation patients' social support received from rehabilitation staff and from support providers outside rehabilitation, and to examine the relationships between social support and the patients' reports of subjective health complaints (SHC). Methods: 131 patients (68 % females, mean age 45 years) participating in a 4-week, inpatient, occupational rehabilitation program were included. All patients completed questionnaires on demographic variables, SHC, and social support (Social Support Inventory, SSI) received from rehabilitation staff and from support providers outside rehabilitation. The factor structure of the Norwegian version of SSI was analysed identifying two factors; directive and nondirective social support. Results: Patients reported significantly more support from rehabilitation staff than from support providers outside rehabilitation, and they reported significantly more nondirective support compared to directive support. High directive support from providers outside rehabilitation was associated with more subjective health complaints. Conclusion: Norwegian patients participating in an occupational rehabilitation program reported more support from rehabilitation staff than from support providers outside rehabilitation and they reported more nondirective support compared to directive support. Only directive support from support providers outside rehabilitation was related to greater reports of subjective health complaints. .