Write 8 page essay on the topic How en and omen benefit differently from social support networks.Consequently, this essay explore social support networks, but through the lenses of the benefits derive

Write 8 page essay on the topic How en and omen benefit differently from social support networks.

Consequently, this essay explore social support networks, but through the lenses of the benefits derived by members based on whether they are male or female in order to make a discovery of how gender dictates the level of participation, the structure, and influence that social support networks have in the lives of its members. Social support is about establishing social network that are essential in the provision of psychological and material resources that have the main goal of benefiting an individual’s efforts to cope with difficult situations in life. Social support is mostly distinguished based on different types of resources. instrumental and interpersonal support (Segall and Fries, 2011). Instrumental support involves the provision of material support to members of the social network where mostly care giving, money, housekeeping and security are the common forms of assistance. On the other hand, interpersonal support involves both informational and emotional support were one is provided with of relevant information whose intended purpose is to help the individual cope with immediate difficulties in life and typically takes the form of advice or guidance in dealing with one’s problems. ...

The absence of social ties with others in society has been shown to be an essential factor that contributed to psychological well being, illness, and even death. Social support systems promote protection against illness, influences health-related behaviour and maximize adjustment and healing from illness (Sjolander and Ahlstrom, 2012). Research has further shown that men and women respond differently to these support systems whether instrumental or interpersonal. The difference in structure and how men and women use social support networks can also determine the benefit that either gender generates from the current arrangement (Segall and Fries, 2011). It is evident that, other socio-demographic characteristics apart from gender, including age, class and race determine the kind of structure of social support networks that individuals are involved in. Structural differences are common between men and women relating to factors that affect their use of such networks. In creating further contrasts in the kind of social support networks between men and women, Taylor, Klein, Lewis, Gruenewald, Gurung and Updegraff (2000) claim the functions and structures of the groups that men and women form for the purpose of assistance during needy time are different in terms of the purpose of forming such networks. Men are said to form networks whose main goal is to create a defensive mechanism against a perceived aggression in addition to having a preference for larger social groups than can be said of women. Further, it is emphasized that the social support networks formed by men tend to be organized around a strictly defined purpose or tasks to be achieved at some point in time.