Received social support for sexually transmitted disease–related care–seeking among adolescents

doi:10.1016/S1054-139X(99)00007-5

Journal of Adolescent Health

Volume 25, Issue 3, September 1999, Pages 174-178

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(99)00007-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective: To describe the types and sources of social support received by adolescents obtaining care at a large urban sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic.

Method: A total of 140 females and 82 males (ages 13–20 mean, 17.6 years) indicated whether they had received any of 11 types of social support, and, if so, from whom. Types of support included: companionship to clinic, advice on symptom interpretation, advice to seek clinical care, advice on potential sources of care, help making appointments, prior provision of medications, supportive talking, help talking to sex partner, provision of money, provision of transportation, and help getting STD protection.

Results: Eighty percent received at least one type of social support of whom 77% of subjects reported at least two types of support. The most frequently received support was information about symptom interpretation and appropriate clinic use (47% for each); 41% were accompanied to their clinic visit, and 37% received emotional support. A total of 15% of men but only 4% of women (p < .05 by Chi-square) received medication (usually antibiotics) but women were more likely to receive financial help (5% vs. 0% for women and men, respectively; p < .05). Although women obtained support earlier in the care-seeking process than men, there were no other significant gender differences in types of received support. Friends and sex partners were the most frequently cited sources of companionship and transportation, but parents provided transportation, information, medicine, and money for 15–20% of subjects receiving these types of support.

Conclusion: Most adolescents receive a social support as part of seeking care for STD-related problems.

Section snippets

Methods

As previously described (10), subjects were age <21 years and attending a publicly funded STD clinic either for genitourinary symptoms or because of notification of being a sexual contact of an infected partner. Patients with genital warts or ulcers and those reporting symptom duration of more than 35 days were ineligible, in order to focus on care-seeking for recent STD-related problems.

Eligible patients included 129 men and 194 women. Among those eligible, 79 of 129 men (61%) and 129 of 194

Results

Of 208 subjects, 166 (80%) reported at least one type of social support; of these subjects reporting any support, 77% (128 of 166) indicated two or more types of support. Subjects receiving any support were slightly younger than those who did not (17.6 years vs. 18.1 years for those receiving and not receiving support, respectively; p > .05 by Student’s t-test). There were no gender differences among those receiving and not receiving support.

The type of received social support is summarized in

Discussion

Most adolescents report at least some received social support in the process of seeking care for STD-related reasons. Informational support and companionship were the most common types of received support. Material support in terms of direct financial help was relatively infrequent. Support was provided by members of most elements of an adolescent’s social network: parents, other family members, friends, and sex partners. However, relatively few adults such as teachers, coaches, or school

Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U19 AI 31494; Robert B. Jones, M.D., Ph.D., principal investigator). Portions of this work were presented at the Society for Adolescent Medicine, March 6, 1997, San Francisco, CA.

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Adolescent Health BriefReceived social support for sexually transmitted disease–related care–seeking among adolescents

Abstract

Section snippets

Methods

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgements

To whom do adolescents turn for help? Differences between disturbed and nondisturbed adolescents

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatr

Adolescent perceptions of help-seeking resources for substance abuse

Child Dev

Gender differences in social support and physical health

Health Psychol

Social support and healthA theoretical and empirical overview

J Soc Person Relation

Protecting adolescents from harmFindings from the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health

JAMA

The role of life events, family support, and competence in adolescent substance useA test of vulnerability and protective factors

Am J Commun Psychol

Family communication and teenagers’ contraceptive use

Fam Plann Perspect

Adolescent Health Brief
Received social support for sexually transmitted disease–related care–seeking among adolescents