Labour and extra-labour-based social support among family physicians employed by two health care institutions in Guadalajara, México

Abstract

The fact that social support generates satisfaction and an optimal emotional development in an individual, resulting in positive consequences for his/her health and providing benefits for both the quality of life of the individual and the people belonging to his/her human environment, is well known. The individual's perception of receiving support and the awareness of a reliable and effective network constitute a determining factor for his/her health status, irrespectively of his/her real condition The purpose of the present work was to analyse the current status of labour and extra-labour-based social support and to assess its association with any social-demographic and labour variables among family physicians employed by two health care institutions at the urban area of Guadalajara, Mexico.

The study design was cross-sectional and descriptive. The study population consisted of family physicians from both institutions. A general data survey and the Social Resources Inventory of Díaz Veiga were conducted to assess social support.

From a total of 196 physicians who were enrolled, 73 were female and 123 were male. The mean age was 46.29. Most of them were married (79.7%). The highest degree in education attained was the medical specialty (92.9%) and 52.8% worked during the mornings. In general, social support networks available to the physicians were ranked as "very good". The latter was decisive enough as to explain the lack of associations with or risk factors for any manifestation of disease.

The recommendation is to maintain the available support network, and for those lacking one, to create a support network and to adequately maintain it.