Social support: a critical factor in women's health and health promotion.

Social networks and social support have been found to be beneficial to the health of individuals in a variety of ways--reducing mortality rates, improving recovery from serious illness, and increasing use of preventive health practices. Social relationships appear to be particularly important to women. Suggestions for health promotion and disease prevention activities include the use of buddy systems, feminist pedagogical techniques, group activities, and linkage to natural supports. Health promotion with women is an underdeveloped area of social work practice with great potential to increase the health of client populations.