Association between Social Support and Self-Care Behaviors in Adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Higher social support is associated with a better quality of life and functioning in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

To determine the association between structural and functional social support and self-care behaviors in adults with COPD.

This was a longitudinal study using data from the CASCADE (COPD Activity: Serotonin Transporter, Cytokines, and Depression) study, which was focused on depression and functioning in COPD. Physical activity was measured with a validated accelerometer at baseline, year 1, and year 2. Additional self-care behaviors included pulmonary rehabilitation attendance, smoking status, receipt of influenza and/or pneumococcal vaccinations, and medication adherence. Structural social support indicators included living status, being partnered, number of close friends/relatives, and presence of a family caregiver. Functional social support was measured with the Medical Outcomes Social Support Survey (MOSSS). Mixed-effects and logistic regression models were used.

A total of 282 participants with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage II to IV COPD were included (age, 68 ± 9 yr; 80% men; FEV₁% predicted, 45 ± 16). For physical activity, participants who lived with others accrued 903 more steps per day than those who lived alone (95% confidence interval [CI], 373-1,433; P = 0.001); increases in the MOSSS total score were associated with more steps per day (β = 10; 95% CI, 2-18; P = 0.02). The odds of pulmonary rehabilitation participation were more than 11 times higher if an individual had a spouse or partner caregiver compared with not having a caregiver (odds ratio [OR], 11.03; 95% CI, 1.93-62.97; P < 0.01). Higher functional social support (MOSSS total score) was associated with marginally lower odds of smoking (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-1.00; P = 0.03) and higher odds of pneumococcal vaccination (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00-1.03; P = 0.02). Social support was not associated with influenza vaccination or medication adherence.

Structural social support, which was measured by reports of living with others and having a caregiver, was respectively associated with higher levels of physical activity and greater participation in pulmonary rehabilitation in adults with COPD. Our findings reinforce the critical importance of the social environment in shaping patients' success with self-care. Clinical Trial registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01074515).