Invisible support and adjustment to stress.

Abstract

Although there is abundant evidence that perceived availability of support buffers the effects of stressors on mental health, the relatively meager research on support transactions has failed to show an association between actual receipt of support and adjustment to stressors. The authors examined a possible explanation for this inconsistency, that awareness of receiving support entails an emotional cost and that the most effective support is unnoticed by the recipient. Using data from a daily diary study of support provision and receipt in couples, the authors show that many transactions reported by supporters are not reported by recipients. They also show that these invisible support transactions promote adjustment to a major stressor.

Associations between received social support and positive and negative affect: evidence for age differences from a daily-diary study

“…In contrast, so far, received social support as a predictor has yielded inconsistent findings with regard to emotional well-being outcomes: although positive associations with well-being are reported (e.g., Kleiboer et al 2006), oftentimes results indicate non-significant (e.g., Knoll et al 2007a) or even negative associations with wellbeing (e.g., Bolger et al 2000).…”

“…Following this conceptual rationale, the source of social support might make a crucial difference regarding the effects of received social support on well-being. Thus, it can be expected that older adults are less likely to experience the negative effects of received social support known from research with younger adults (e.g., Bolger et al 2000).…”

“…Moreover, many studies on social support effects on well-being focus on negative aspects of well-being, such as depressive symptoms (e.g., Okun and Keith 1998) or negative mood (e.g., Bolger et al 2000). Positive aspects of well-being have been focused on less often.…”

“…Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive effects of social support on mental (e.g., Hays et al 2001) and physical well-being (e.g., Uchino et al 1996). There are, however, studies that demonstrate no (Knoll et al 2007a) or even negative effects of social support on well-being (e.g., Bolger et al 2000). These heterogeneous results may in part be due to different operationalizations of support, that is perceived and received support (e.g., Norris and Kaniasty 1996;Schwarzer and Knoll 2010).…”

“…Third, the support received might not meet the needs of the recipient (e.g., Martire et al 2002). From a lifespan perspective, it is remarkable that, so far, all the studies on negative effects of received social support on well-being focused on youngand middle-aged individuals (e.g., Bolger et al 2000). As the composition of the social network and thus of the sources of social support changes dramatically with increasing age, this study aimed at addressing age differences in the conceptual alternatives by examining whether the patterns of relationships between received social support and indicators of well-being also apply for older people.…”