Exploring the Association Between Positive and Negative Social Support and Spiritual Well-Being: Results from the National Survey of American Life

Previous studies have found that support that is uplifting in nature (i.e., positive social support) can have a positive influence on the spiritual well-being of individuals with chronic diseases. However, few studies have explored positive and negative social support’s (i.e., the individual receiving the support feeling unsupported) impact. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between positive and negative social support and spiritual well-being among individuals of African descent with chronic illnesses. Survey items that focused on positive and negative social support as well as spiritual well-being were obtained from a secondary dataset, the National Survey of American Life. Missing imputation models were adjusted by demographic characteristics (gender, age, income, education, marital status, employment, length of stay in the U.S., insurance, and religious service attendance). Findings from the analysis revealed a positive association between positive social support and spiritual well-being (β: 0.07, SE: 0.01, p < 0.0001). No significant associations were observed between negative social support and spiritual well-being (β: 0.01, SE: 0.01, p = 0.51). Future researchers should continue to explore the impact of social support on the spiritual well-being of individuals of African descent through the implementation of a culturally tailored program designed to reduce chronic diseases within this population.