Social – Social Support – KidneyPal

Social support

Social domain

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SOCIAL

In the Social Domain, the sociodemographics that were moderately correlated were age, educational attainment, occupational status, and household income. These four factors had a stronger relationship to social quality of life (QoL) compared to the other variables, which showed only weak correlations.

These factors may contribute to stronger social well-being due to their influence on access to support networks, communication skills, and opportunities for social participation. For instance, higher education can enhance interpersonal abilities, employment fosters daily interaction and structure, and sufficient income allows for greater engagement in community or family activities. While not significantly influential on their own, these factors collectively help shape more stable and supportive social environments, which are crucial for individuals undergoing long-term treatment.

Social Support

The perceived availability and sufficiency of any type of support an individual receives from others during times of need (Cobb, 1976).

General Interventions

(For age, sex, marital status, household income, comorbidities)

1. Reinforce consistent emotional contact.

Frequent contact with friends or loved ones—even simple check-ins—reduces loneliness and reinforces emotional security (Kimmel et al., 2000).

2. Join peer support groups for people on dialysis.

Hearing from others who share your experience can offer both emotional relief and practical advice (National Kidney Foundation, 2024).

3. Educate your support network.

Help those around you understand dialysis by sharing brochures, videos, or inviting them to a session with your care team. Educated supporters can offer more helpful, relevant support (Tong et al., 2009).

4. Encourage caregivers to attend appointments.

When caregivers understand your condition firsthand, they can better advocate and offer informed help (National Kidney Foundation, 2024).

5. Use online support platforms.

Participate in online forums or social media communities for people on dialysis to gain emotional support, coping tips, and a sense of connection (Alshraifeen et al., 2020)

Educational Attainment-Based: Lower Formal Education

1. Join community support programs with health literacy coaches

Peer-led groups tailored to low literacy, shown to improve depression and social engagement (Silva et al., 2016).

2. Attend regular faith-based social gatherings

Religious/spiritual settings often provide comfortable social support (Hoang et al., 2022).

3. Use a family liaison at dialysis center to facilitate communication

Strengthens emotional ties and ensures understanding of care (Silva et al., 2016).

Educational Attainment-Based: Higher Formal Education

1. Start a patient blog or diary.

Sharing your experiences online or in a support group not only educates others but fosters community and emotional release. It also enhances emotional and informational support online (Alatawi et al., 2024; Hoang et al., 2022).

2. Attend empowerment‑focused group sessions

Increases social capital and self-management (Yang et al., 2021).

3. Use structured social support mapping with healthcare professionals

Makes social networks explicit and actionable (Alatawi et al., 2024).

Household Income Based: High Income

1. Host small gatherings or coffee meetups with trusted friends or family.

If you have the means, schedule regular, informal get-togethers—like a coffee date, movie night, or lunch at home. These can strengthen emotional bonds and provide a relaxing environment for support (Hoang et al., 2022).

2. Join a private wellness or fitness class tailored to chronic illness.

Consider low-intensity group activities like yoga, Tai Chi, or guided meditation. These not only improve your physical condition but offer social connection with others managing similar health challenges (Alatawi et. al., 2024)

3. Volunteer your time or skills in your local community or patient group.

Giving back, even just a few hours a month, helps create purpose and expand your social network. It can be especially fulfilling to help others with kidney disease or similar experiences (Lee et. al., 2020).

Household Income Based: Low Income

1. Attend free or low-cost support groups in your community or online.

Many nonprofit organizations, churches, or patient associations offer free social gatherings or peer support sessions. Participating in these groups can reduce loneliness and increase your sense of belonging (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2023).

2. Connect with a peer on dialysis through social media or community programs.

Look for Facebook groups, WhatsApp chats, or local centers with patient-led groups. Talking to someone going through the same experience can provide emotional relief and practical tips (Chung et. al., 2024).

3. Make a simple weekly plan to reach out to friends or family

Even a short phone call, message, or visit helps strengthen your relationships. You don’t need special events—regular, simple communication builds a lasting support system (Alatawi et al., 2024).

Occupational Status Based: Employed

1. Request flexible work arrangements.

Ask for work-from-home days or flexible hours to reduce stress and conserve energy for social interactions (Wayne & van Dijk, 2007)

2. Ask coworkers for support and adjust tasks.

This helps in reducing stigma and strengthening workplace relationships Takahashi et al., 2017).

3. Engage close family and friends in care routines.

Invite family members and trusted friends to join supporting you during dialysis appointments or health conversations (Alshraifeen et al., 2020).

Occupational Status Based: Unemployed

1. Reconnect with family and friends.

Reach out to relatives or old friends through phone calls, texts, or visits to rebuild social connections (Tong et al., 2020).

2. Participate in community or religious activities.

Attend events at local community centers, churches, mosques, or temples to meet new people and build a support network (Ge et al., 2025).

3. Join a local or online support group.

Look for kidney-related support groups in your area or online to connect with others who understand your experience (Husain et al., 2020).

References

Cobb, S. (1976). Social support as a moderator of life stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 38(5), 300–314. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-197609000-00003
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023). Medicare coverage of kidney dialysis & kidney transplant services. https://www.medicare.gov/
Kimmel, P. L., Emont, S. L., Newmann, J. M., Danko, H., & Moss, A. H. (2000). ESRD patient quality of life: Symptoms, spiritual beliefs, psychosocial factors, and ethnicity. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 35(4), 716–724.
National Kidney Foundation. (2024). Living well on dialysis: A guide for patients and their families. https://www.kidney.org
Alshraifeen, A., Al‑Rawashdeh, S., Alnuaimi, K., et al. (2020). Social support predicted quality of life in people receiving haemodialysis treatment: a cross‑sectional survey. Nursing Open, 7(6), 1517–1525. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.533.
Tong, A., Sainsbury, P., & Craig, J. (2009). Support interventions for caregivers of people with chronic kidney disease: A systematic review. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 23(12), 3960–3965. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfn554
Silva, S. M. et al. (2016). Social support of adults and elderly with chronic kidney disease on dialysis. Revista Latino‑Americana de Enfermagem, 24, e2752.
Hoang, V. L., Green, T., & Bonner, A. (2022). Examining social support, psychological status and health-related quality of life in people receiving haemodialysis. Journal of Renal Care, 48, 102–111
Alatawi, A. A., Alaamri, M., & Almutary, H. (2024). Social support and adherence to treatment regimens among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Healthcare, 12(19), 1958.
Yang, Y. et al. (2021). Relationships between social capital, patient empowerment, and self-management in hemodialysis patients. BMC Nephrology, 22, 2669.
Chung, C. Y., Wong, C. Y., & Lo, W. C. (2024). A randomized controlled trial evaluated face-to-face versus WeChat-based peer support: significant improvements in perceived social support and depressive symptoms at one- and three-month follow-ups among adults on dialysis. Kidney360, 5(6), 1103–1112.
Lee, J. H., Park, H. S., & Han, K. T. (2020). The association between volunteer activities and health-related quality of life among adults with chronic disease. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(9), 3151. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17093151
Wayne, J. J., & van Dijk, J. P. (2007). Factors affecting employment at initiation of dialysis. Clinical Nephrology, 68(Suppl 1), 12–17.
Takahashi, K., et al. (2017). Factors associated with employment in patients undergoing hemodialysis: a mixed methods study. Renal Replacement Therapy, 3, 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41100-017-0105-z.
Alshraifeen, A., Al‑Rawashdeh, S., Alnuaimi, K., et al. (2020). Social support predicted quality of life in people receiving haemodialysis treatment: a cross‑sectional survey. Nursing Open, 7(6), 1517–1525. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.533.
Tong, A., et al. (2020). Development of a psychosocial intervention to support informal caregivers of people with end-stage kidney disease receiving haemodialysis. BMC Nephrology, 21, 421. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-020-02075-2
Ge, W. W., Zhang, H. L., Liu, P., et al. (2025). Current status and influencing factors of social participation in patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis: A Cross-sectional study. BMC Nephrology, 26, 116. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04044-z
Husain, F., Kusuma, H., & Johan, A. J. (2020). Effects of peer support program on self-management in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis. Nurse Media Journal of Nursing, 10(2), 90–100. https://doi.org/10.14710/nmjn.v10i2.26502