Fig. 1

Operationalization of constructed measures of contact frequency and social support.

* Living with someone or having contact at least once a month counted 1 point pr. role, range 0–6. Having 0–2 points was categorized as low contact frequency and 3–6 was categorized as high.

** Living with someone or having contact at least once a month counted 1 point pr. role, range 0–3. Having 0–1 point was categorized as low and 2–3 as high contact frequency.

*** Having access to support always, often, sometimes, or seldom counted one point pr. role, range 0–6. Having 0–2 points was categorized as low support and 3–6 as high.

**** Having access to support from someone always, often, or sometimes was categorized as high support and having access never or almost never as low support