The influence of social support on ethnic differen

Authors: Neil R Smith Charlotte Clark Melanie Smuk Steven Cummins Stephen A Stansfeld

Publish Date: 2015/07/24

Volume: 50, Issue: 11, Pages: 1701-1711

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Abstract

A longitudinal survey of 2426 adolescents from the Olympic Regeneration in East London study measured wellbeing and depressive symptoms at baseline at ages 11–12 and at followup two years later at ages 13–14 Social support was assessed at ages 11–12 years by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support by the level of parental support for school by the frequency of family activities and by friendship choices Ethnic differences in wellbeing and depression in Bangladeshi N = 337 and Black African N = 249 adolescents compared to their White UK counterparts N = 380 were estimated adjusted stepwise for sociodemographic factors and domains of social supportBlack African and Bangladeshi adolescents scored significantly higher for wellbeing than their White UK counterparts There were no significant ethnic differences in the prevalence of depressive symptoms Lower levels of social support were prospectively associated with lower wellbeing and higher rates of depression in all ethnic groups Adjustment for multiple domains of social support did not account for ethnic differences in wellbeingBangladeshi and Black African adolescents in East London may have a positive mental health advantage over their White UK counterparts though social support did not fully explain this difference Further investigation of the reasons for lower wellbeing in the White UK group is neededNS designed and conducted the analysis and drafted the manuscript MS conducted the data imputation CC SC and SS contributed to critical revisions of the manuscript The ORiEL study http//wwworielprojectcouk is funded by the NIHR Public Health Research Programme Grant number 09/3005/09 SC is supported by a United Kingdom National Institute of Health Research Senior Fellowship The authors had ultimate authority over study design collection management analysis and interpretation of data writing of the report and the decision to submit the report for publication The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the funder National Institute for Health ResearchThe study has approval from Queen Mary University of London Ethics Committee QMREC2011/40 the Association of Directors of Children’s Services RGE110927 and the London Boroughs Research Governance Framework CERGF113 Parent/carer consent for their child’s participation was obtained passively 1 week prior to the survey visit Adolescents provided their written assent immediately before completing their questionnaire and were presented with the opportunity to opt out at any time

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