Relationship to Others

By Keryn Breiterman-loader

Social support is “an interpersonal transaction involving one or more of the following: (1) emotional concern (liking, love, empathy), (2) instrumental aid (goods or services), (3) information (about the environment), or (4) appraisal (information relevant to self-evaluation).”^[1] Social support has long been correlated with increased mental and physical wellbeing. Research shows that it can be a major force enabling us to cope with stress and life’s challenges in a variety of ways, which in turn can lead to improved mental, emotional, and physiological well-being.

Coping With Stress

Social support is also correlated with decreased stress and anxiety.^[2] Having a strong social network increases both our perceived and actual resources for dealing with life’s challenges. These resources help us effectively deal problems which may be causing us stress, and our perceived feelings of support can also decrease the psychological distress we feel when dealing with stressful situations.^[3] Physiologically, social support may buffer against stress through the hormone oxytocin, which is associated with both social interaction and pro-social behavior, as well as through decreased stress variables such as cortisol levels, blood pressure, and immune function.^[4],[5],[6]

Many correlational studies on social support and physical health have shown that social support is associated with improved functioning of the cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems, allowing people with more social support to live longer, healthier lives.^[7],[8],[9] Many of these health benefits are derived from the decreases in stress, and therefore the negative stress-related physiological responses, such as lower serum cholesterol, uric acid levels, and higher indices of immune function.^[10]

Self-Efficacy and Belonging

Social support may additionally support physiological and mental wellbeing through its connection to self-efficacy. Social support has been shown to be facilitate to self-efficacy^[11] which in turn determines the initiation, effort, and length of coping behavior in individuals when faced with difficulty.^[12] Mentally and emotionally healthy people exhibit greater coping behavior than those experiencing psychosis, and both social support and self-efficacy are correlated with increased coping behavior.^[13]

The need to belong is one of the most fundamental human needs. Thus, feelings of belonging formed by social support systems can lead to improved social and psychological functioning and protect against depression.^[14],[15] A lack of interpersonal attachments has been linked with poorer health, adjustment, and well-being.^[16]

Finding Social Support

Social support can be found in friends and family, as well as support groups. Research shows that support groups have positive benefits for the elderly, individuals with chronic or terminal illness, the widowed, the obese, alcoholics, single parents, and the mentally and physically handicapped.^[17] Social support can be found in virtually any group of people. Much of the research that has been done on social support has studied positive social interactions. Destructive or negative social interactions may actually increase stress. Thus, when seeking social support, try to look for support from people and groups who you actually find supportive and who you have positive interactions with.

Here are some resources to help you find a support group:

• SupportWorks 
• Mental Health America 

Bibliography

• [1] Taylor, Shelley E., Roberta L. Falke, Steven J. Shoptaw, and Rosemary R. Lichtman. "Social Support, Support Groups, and the Cancer Patient." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 45, no. 5 (1986): 608-615.