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Indicator: Social Support

Data and Data Discussion provided by Communities Count

Figure 2: Percent of Adults Who Have Specific Supports "All of the Time" King County, 1999, 2001 & 2004

Figure 1: Average Level of Social Support

Figure 3: Average Level of Social Support by Race, Income and Relationship Status

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Upstream Indicators

There are currently no published Upstream Indicators.

Downstream Indicators
  •   Participation in Life-Enriching Activities --- In 2004, 85% of King County adults were "very active" or "somewhat active" in at least three different activities. The increases in this indicator between 1999 and 2001 and 2001 and 2004 are not statistically significant.   (view data graph)
  •   Stress --- There was no significant increase or decrease in the average stress score for adults in King County between 2001 and 2004.   (view data graph)
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Related Goals

A strong social network makes us feel connected to others, which is crucial to our well-being. When we have a support system to encourage us and make us feel special, we are more likely to make healthy living choices which contribute to overall life satisfaction.

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Sustainability Snapshot:

Social support provides people with the emotional and practical resources they need. Receiving affection, companionship and assistance from family and friends makes people feel loved, esteemed, valued and secure. A strong social network enables people to make healthy decisions and feel connected to their communities, contributing to their happiness and overall life satisfaction. People in King County report relatively high levels of social support.

Sustainability Trend:

There are no significant differences in average social support level by region and no significant changes between 1999, 2001, and 2004.

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Average level of Social Support in King County based on survey using 9 questions which asked about specific types of social support that the respondents believe they can rely on.

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

Social support was measured by asking people 9 questions about specific types of social support they believe they can rely on. Answers to the 9 questions were added to create a social support scale with a possible score between 9 (Low) and 45 (High). (Figure 1)

The average (mean) social support score for adults in King County is 40. There are no significant differences in average social support level by region and no significant changes between 1999, 2001 and 2004.

While it appears that there were lower levels of specific types of support in Seattle than other regions of the county, these differences are not statistically significant.

In 2004, people in each region and county-wide all said that they were more likely to have someone to help them if they were confined to bed than in 2001. Also people county-wide and Seattle residents, in particular, said they were more likely to have someone to take them to the doctor if needed in 2004 than in 2001. Changes in all other items making up the social support scale were not statistically significant between 2001 and 2004. (Figure 2)

People who are white report more social support than people of other races. (Figure 3)

People with incomes of $50,000 or more have higher levels of support than people with lower incomes.

People who live in a couple (either married or unmarried) have more social support than others who are separated, divorced, widowed or never married.

Data Source and Limitations

The social support measures were contributed by Communities Count (www.communitiescount.org) and are from the King County Community Health Survey, 1999, 2001 and 2004, which used social support questions from the short version of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (Cathy Sherbourne and Anita Stewart, 1991). These items measure perceived social support of various types: a) emotional support, love, and empathy, b) instrumental or tangible support, c) information, guidance, or feedback, d) appraisal support, which helps the person evaluate herself, and e) companionship in leisure and recreational activities.

The limitations of an English-only telephone survey include the following: a) people who do not have a telephone are missed, b) people who do not speak English do not participate, c) people who have less education and lower incomes tend to be under-represented.

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