Kontakt 2014, 16(4):e236-e241 | DOI: 10.1016/j.kontakt.2014.05.007

Migration and its impact on mental and physical health: Social support and its main functionsSocial Sciences - Review article

Veronika Záleskáa,*, Iva Brabcováb, Jitka Vackováa
a University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Department of Social Work, Czech Republic
b University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Czech Republic

Social support was one of the first factors identified as factors moderating the influence of adverse life events on psychic well-being and health of human. Social support is also an important factor in the process of the immigrants' integration (as a part of adaptation process) and at the same times also a significant determinant of their health. Immigrants constitute a vulnerable social group with specific health needs and their health condition is influenced by a lot of factors. The article submits a survey of studies dealing with social support and its relation to the immigrants' mental and physic health and also to integration. The goal of this study is to describe functions of social support of immigrants, to monitor the connections between migration (and integration) and access to social support and the relation of social support to the immigrants' mental and physical health.
Methodology of research activity: The source of information consisted of publications in databased journals (Scopus, Ebsco and Medline databases) and monographs related to the topic.

Conclusion: Social support has three main functions: 1. promotion of physical health, 2. promotion of mental health and 3. development of integration - as a growing into democratic society. The information obtained can help us to find ways to strengthen specific immigrant supporting system.

Keywords: Social support; Social network; Immigrant; Health; Mental health

Received: February 20, 2014; Revised: May 16, 2014; Accepted: May 19, 2014; Published: December 15, 2014  Show citation

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Záleská V, Brabcová I, Vacková J. Migration and its impact on mental and physical health: Social support and its main functions. Kontakt. 2014;16(4):e236-241. doi: 10.1016/j.kontakt.2014.05.007.
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