SocialNetworks,interpersonal.PDF

Review published: 14 October 2016 doi: 10.3389/fcomm.2016.00010 Social Networks, interpersonal Social Support, and Health Outcomes: A Health Communication Perspective Kevin Wright* Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA This manuscript discusses the development, impact, and several major research find- ings of studies in the area of social network support and health outcomes. The review focuses largely on the development of online social support networks and the ways in which they may interact with face-to-face support networks to influence physical and psychological health outcomes. The manuscript discusses this area, and it presents a research agenda for future work in this area from an Associate Editor’s perspective. Keywords: social support, health outcomes research, social networks, communication processes, online communication Decades of research studies have found that our social networks and interpersonal relationships