Role of Social Support in Coping with Stress (AQA A-Level Psychology): Revision Notes
Role of Social Support in Coping with Stress
What is social support?
Social support refers to the assistance people seek from their social networks—including friends, family, and acquaintances—when dealing with stressful situations. The effectiveness of social support depends not just on the size of someone's social network, but on how integrated they are within it. A small, close-knit group can often provide more meaningful support than a large but superficial network.
The quality of social connections matters more than quantity. A few close, reliable relationships often provide better support than many superficial ones.
An interesting perspective comes from Taylor (2011), who suggested that "many relationships may be better for the having of them than the using of them." This means that simply knowing support is available can be as valuable as actually using it. The knowledge that friends are there if needed can provide comfort without the risk of rejection that might come from actively seeking help.
Types of social support
Schaefer et al. (1981) identified three distinct forms of social support that people can receive:
Instrumental support
This involves practical, tangible assistance that directly helps solve problems. Examples include lending money, cooking meals, giving lifts to appointments, or providing useful information about stress management. This type of support is most valued when it comes from credible sources—for instance, medical information is more trusted when it comes from healthcare professionals rather than friends.
Emotional support
This encompasses the warmth, concern, affection, and empathy we show others during difficult times. Phrases like "I really feel for you" or "I'm sorry you're going through such a tough time" exemplify emotional support. The goal is not to provide practical solutions but to make the stressed person feel better and lift their mood. This support can be expressed through physical comfort, such as hugs, which research shows can have measurable health benefits.
Esteem support
This type focuses on reinforcing someone's belief in their own capabilities and worth. It involves building confidence by expressing faith in the person's ability to handle stressful situations. Examples include saying "I believe in you" or highlighting their past successes in overcoming challenges.
These categories often overlap in real-life situations. For example, offering a "shoulder to cry on" might involve all three types simultaneously, and practical help can have emotional significance because it demonstrates caring.
Research evidence
The following research studies demonstrate the measurable effects of social support on health and wellbeing:
Research Study: Cohen et al. (2015) - Hugs and Health Protection
Participants: 404 healthy adults
Procedure: Researchers telephoned participants every evening for 14 consecutive days to record the number of hugs they received and assess their perceived social support and interpersonal conflicts. Participants then completed questionnaires about daily interpersonal conflicts before being quarantined and exposed to a common cold virus. Researchers monitored them for signs of illness.
Findings: Participants experiencing the most interpersonal conflict (stress) were most likely to become ill. However, those who perceived greater social support had a reduced risk of illness. Hugs accounted for up to one-third of social support's protective effect. Participants with the most frequent hugs were less likely to become infected, and those who did become ill had less severe symptoms than those who received fewer hugs.
This study demonstrates that perceived social support acts as a buffer against stress, with hugs serving as a behavioural indicator of actual emotional support.
Research Study: Fawzy et al. (1993) - Cancer Support Groups
Participants: Patients with malignant melanoma
Procedure: Patients were randomly allocated to either a support group (one session per week for six weeks) or a control group. The support group provided opportunities for emotional expression and information sharing about the illness.
Findings: Six years later, support group patients showed better NK cell functioning (a type of white blood cell important for immune response) and were more likely to be alive and cancer-free compared to the control group.
This well-controlled, prospective study demonstrates that social support's benefits can be substantial and long-lasting, with the ability to predict health outcomes years later.
Evaluation of social support
Gender differences in social support use
Research consistently shows that men and women utilise social support differently. While men tend to have larger social networks, this size advantage doesn't necessarily translate to more effective support. Women are more likely to seek, use, and provide social support during stressful periods across virtually all measures.
Luckow et al. (1998) reviewed 26 studies investigating gender differences in social support coping. Twenty-five of these studies found that women used social support as a stress-coping mechanism more frequently than men. This difference was particularly pronounced for emotional support, suggesting that women may be more comfortable with the emotional vulnerability that seeking support requires.
Negative effects of social support
Social support is not universally beneficial and can sometimes backfire. The source of support and the type provided both matter greatly. While emotional support is generally welcomed from friends and relatives, instrumental support in the form of information is more valued when it comes from qualified professionals.
Sometimes well-intentioned support can increase anxiety rather than reduce it. For example, if a close relative insists on accompanying someone to a medical appointment, the person might feel more anxious than if they had gone alone. This suggests that support may be more beneficial when it is sought by the recipient rather than imposed by the supporter.
Online support from strangers can sometimes be more helpful than face-to-face support from friends, possibly because it avoids the social complications and obligations that can come with receiving help from people in our immediate social circle.
Cultural influences on social support effectiveness
Cultural background significantly influences how people view and use social support. Taylor et al. (2004) compared Americans of European and Asian origins and found notable differences in support-seeking behaviour.
Asian-Americans were much less likely to seek and use social support networks during stressful times, being concerned about disrupting community harmony by bringing personal problems to others' attention. In contrast, European-Americans viewed relationships as resources to draw upon during stressful situations.
This research highlights that social support is not universally welcomed across all cultures, and what might be intended as helpful support could potentially cause additional stress for individuals from cultures that value collective harmony over individual need expression.
Theoretical explanations: the buffering hypothesis
Cohen and Wills (1985) proposed the buffering hypothesis to explain how social support works. According to this theory, social support protects against the negative effects of stressors by creating psychological distance from them. Support acts as a reserve that dampens the impact of stressful events and enhances coping abilities.
However, the hypothesis also suggests that social support provides fewer benefits when stress is absent. This raises questions about whether support can be beneficial at times when people are already coping well and feeling unstressed. Some forms of support, particularly esteem support, may be appreciated at any time, but support offered when people feel they're managing well might seem intrusive and benefit the giver more than the recipient.
Key Points to Remember:
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Three types of social support: Instrumental (practical help), emotional (comfort and empathy), and esteem (confidence building) - each serves different needs during stressful times
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Research shows effectiveness: Studies like Cohen et al. demonstrate that social support can provide measurable health benefits, with even simple actions like hugging contributing to illness prevention
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Gender differences exist: Women are more likely to seek, use, and provide social support, particularly emotional support, compared to men across most stress-coping situations
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Cultural context matters: The effectiveness and acceptability of social support varies across cultures, with some groups preferring not to burden their communities with personal problems
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Support can backfire: Social support isn't always beneficial - it can increase anxiety when imposed rather than requested, and the source and type of support significantly influence its effectiveness