• Renee B Cadzow and Timothy J Servoss.
• Department of Family Medicine, Primary Care Research Institute, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14215, USA. rcadzow@buffalo.edu
• J Natl Med Assoc. 2009 Mar 1; 101 (3): 243250243-50.

ObjectiveThis study examines the association between perceived social support and the prevalence of physical and mental health conditions among adult patients of an urban free medical clinic.MethodsPatients (n = 289) completed a health risk assessment (HRA) questionnaire that addressed a number of medical and social issues, including perceived social support and whether patients had been told they had certain health conditions. Among these questions were 2 validated instruments: the PRIME-MD for mental health disorder assessment and CAGE for alcohol risk assessment. A deidentified database of responses was analyzed for statistical associations between perceived social support and these health conditions.ResultsAmong those with insufficient perceived social support there were higher rates of having physician-measured overweight/obesity, a heart condition, a previous heart attack, anxiety, and depression. The association between perceived social support and cardiovascular health existed among women but not among men. Higher income, not smoking, and consumption of high-fiber foods were associated with sufficient social support.ConclusionPerceiving sufficient social support was associated with lower rates of several mental and physical health disorders. Social support may act as a barrier or buffer to poor health caused by the stressful living conditions often experienced by low-income underinsured people. Males and females may experience this social support buffering differently.

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