Male gender and unemployment are associated with lower levels of perceived social support in adults with cystic fibrosis
Adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) face unique challenges with regard to the attainment and maintenance of social support. Although social support has been shown to improve treatment outcomes in other patient-populations, research on social support in adults with CF is limited. In fact, no studies have examined factors associated with less perceived social support in this population. The current study aimed to fill this gap, thus providing CF care teams with empirical evidence about who may be most likely to lack support and inform future intervention. Participants in this cross-sectional study included 233 adults with CF who were part of a larger, longitudinal study. Participants completed the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List, a measure of social support, and attended routine clinical visits where measures of disease severity were obtained. Being female and employed were associated with greater perceptions of social support in this sample. Age, income, education, marital status, and disease-severity were not related to perceptions of social support. The present study revealed that individuals with CF who are unemployed and those who are male perceived having lower social support, perhaps identifying subgroups for whom targeted interventions may be appropriate.