The more the better? How social support predicted perceived barriers to tuberculosis treatment across groups of different socioeconomic statuses

Objective Social support can lower perceived barriers to medical treatment, but this relationship may vary in groups of different socioeconomic statuses (SES). This study examined whether different types of social support predicted different types of perceived barriers to tuberculosis (TB) treatment and whether these relationships varied across different levels of SES. Method A paper-pencil survey covering 12 cities in Guangdong, China (N = 1386) was conducted in December 2020, which measured demographics, three types of perceived social support (informational, instrumental, and emotional) and barriers to TB treatment (cognitive, instrumental, and psychological). Results Informational support and instrumental support were negatively related to cognitive barriers and instrumental barriers. These relationships were stronger among more educated individuals and urban residents. However, emotional support predicted psychological barrier positively, and this relationship was stronger among less educated individuals and rural residents. Conclusion High SES groups benefit more from individual-level support. Thus, there is a gap of social support, which reveals the power nature of social support exchanges. Practice implications TB campaigns need provide support for low SES groups to compensate for their insufficient support. Campaigns need provide information about disease management and the legal and financial support for TB patients, and change tuberculosis-related norms.