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theses

The concept of social support has played an important role in public health research. Past research suggests that when individuals receive help, mental and physical stress is lessened, health outcomes are improved and even the possibility of negative health is warded off. However, research on social support among persons who use drugs at risk for HIV is mixed in regards to the positive benefits of social support given that structural, institutional and interpersonal factors may complicate whether and how support is sought or received. To develop more effective interventions to decrease drug use and risk for HIV, it is important to better understand the role of social support in women’s lives. This dissertation explores the conditions that affect support seeking, receiving, and providing among women who use drugs. Using qualitative life-history interview data drawn from 25 drug-involved women in New York City, 15 of women are mothers, I investigate two main areas of women’s lives: recovery efforts – trying to become or stay drug-free and relationships with their children. Using grounded theory, interview data were coded and analyzed using Atlas.ti. Findings from this dissertation suggest that the social context in which individuals invoke support transactions or avoid seeking support are critical to understand. Social support may not be available for women who continue to use drugs, particularly from family members, while in contrast, women may have no supportive relationships separate from drug-involved relationships. Policy implications from this dissertation suggest a holistic, family-based approach may be more successful to address patterns of drug involvement and risk for HIV. This dissertation also highlights the importance of qualitative research for the study of social support more broadly.

ETD_5779

Ph.D.

Includes bibliographical references

by Jennifer Pesha Fuld

doi:10.7282/T32V2DKP

ETD doctoral

The author owns the copyright to this work.