Characteristics of Personal Networks Associated with Physical and Psychological Quality of Life Among Demobilized Individuals from the Colombian Armed Conflict

• Published in: Journal of community & applied social psychology Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 173 - 190
• Main Authors: Amar-Amar, José Juan, Abello-LLanos, Raimundo, Madariaga-Orozco, Camilo, Ávila-Toscano, José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2014; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Access; Armed Conflict; Biological and medical sciences; Caribbean countries; Colombia; Conflict; Correlation; Correlation analysis; demobilized individuals; Emotional Abuse; Emotions; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health; Illness and personality; Mental Health; personal networks; Personality, behavior and health; Physical ability; Psychological wellbeing; Psychology and medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Quality of Life; Social Networks; Social Support; Values; South America; Colombia; America; Human; personal networks; Well being; War; Social network; demobilized individuals; Armed Conflict; Military; Quality of life; Social support
• ISSN: 1052-9284; 1099-1298
• DOI: 10.1002/casp.2155

ABSTRACT The study identifies relationships between the characteristics of personal networks of demobilized individuals and their quality of life, through the evaluation of a sample of 102 ex‐combatants from a demilitarized zone in Colombia's Caribbean coast. The data was processed using centrality values calculation and statistical analysis through the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results showed moderate levels of nodality, proximity and intermediation degrees regarding small, closed networks with an unsatisfied high demand for support resources. Quality of life showed medium performance levels, with inverse relationships between mental health (p = .009 < .05) and vitality (p = .011 < .05) and intermediation. Positive feedback related significantly to general health (p = .041 < .05), while negative interactions showed inverse relationships to physical functioning (p = .012 < .05), physical role (p = .005), mental health (p = .001 < .05), and emotional role (p = .009 < .05). In conclusion, among the highly cohesive personal networks, there were less observations of social support that fosters increased energy and psychological health, given that access to this support is limited to a small number of members of the personal network. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.