Content area
Full Text
Abstract
Over the past 30 years investigators have called repeatedly for research on the mechanisms through which social relationships and social support improve physical and psychological well-being, both directly and as stress buffers. I describe seven possible mechanisms: social influence/social comparison, social control, role-based purpose and meaning (mattering), self-esteem, sense of control, belonging and companionship, and perceived support availability. Stress-buffering processes also involve these mechanisms. I argue that there are two broad types of support, emotional sustenance and active coping assistance, and two broad categories of supporters, significant others and experientially similar others, who specialize in supplying different types of support to distressed individuals. Emotionally sustaining behaviors and instrumental aid from significant others and empathy, active coping assistance, and role modeling from similar others should be most efficacious in alleviating the physical and emotional impacts of stressors.
Keywords
mental health, physical health, social psychological mechanisms, social support, social ties
The Problem
Substantial evidence has accumulated over the past few decades showing that social ties and social support are positively and causally related to mental health, physical health, and longevity (Berkman 1995; Cohen and Janicki-Deverts 2009; Cohen and Wills 1985; Ertel, Glymour, and Berkman 2009; House, Umberson, and Landis 1988; Hughes and Gove 1981; Kessler and McLeod 1985; Kessler, Price, and Wortman 1985; Seeman 1996; S. E. Taylor 2007; Stroebe and Stroebe 1996; Thoits 1995; Turner and Turner 1999; Uchino 2004; Umberson and Montez 2010). Evidence also documents that social support buffers the harmful physical and mental health impacts of stress exposure, although these buffering effects are less dramatic and consistent than the direct effects of social ties on health (Cassel 1976; Cobb 1976; Cohen and Wills 1985; House 1981; Kessler et al. 1985; Kessler and McLeod 1985; Thoits 1995; Uchino 2004). Despite robust findings over more than three decades, reviewers have pointed out repeatedly during the same time period that we do not know how social ties or social support actually work to sustain or improve health and well-being. Consider the following statements along with their dates:
"Further research on the proposed mechanism through which social support might operate is clearly indicated" (Cobb 1976:312).
"Future work needs to be based on clear theoretical models of mediating processes in support-well-being relationships" (Cohen and Wills...