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Mental health and social support: a pioneering study on the physically disabled in southern China
Article first published online: 7 APR 2006
DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2006.00415.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Wu, Q. and Mok, B. (2007), Mental health and social support: a pioneering study on the physically disabled in southern China. International Journal of Social Welfare, 16: 41–54. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2006.00415.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 7 APR 2006
- Article first published online: 7 APR 2006
- Accepted for publication November 7, 2005
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- China;
- disability;
- mental health;
- physically disabled;
- social support
This is a pioneering study examining the effect of different types of social support on the mental health of the physically disabled in mainland China. With a random sample of 204 physically disabled people in Guangzhou, the biggest metropolis in southern China, results of this study showed that perceived social support was more effective in maintaining the mental health of the physically disabled than received social support. With respect to received social support, the attitude of the supporters, satisfaction with the support, the reciprocity of support relationships and the personal agency of the support recipients were found to be predictive of mental health. However, received daily-care support unexpectedly showed a significantly negative effect on mental health, while received economic and emotional support appeared to be irrelevant to the mental health of the physically disabled.