Social Support is Associated with Medication Adherence

Functional social support has a stronger association with medical treatment adherence than structural social support in several populations and disease conditions. Using a contemporary U.S. population of adults treated with medications for coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors, the association between social support and medication adherence was examined.  Seeing multiple friends and relatives was associated with better medication adherence among individuals with CHD risk factors. Thus increasing social support with combined structural and functional components may help support medication adherence.

The full article, entitled "Association of functional and structural social support with medication adherence among individuals treated for coronary heart disease risk factors: Findings from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study" can be viewed below.