Social Support and Strain from Partner, Family, and Friends: Costs and Benefits for Men and Women in Adulthood

Abstract

The goals of this study were to (i) examine the association of social support and strain with psychological well-being and health, (ii) investigate whether these associations depended on relationship-type (partner, family, friend), (iii) examine the buffering effects of support on strain (both within and across relationship-type), and (iv) test the extent to which these associations differed by age and sex. The sample contained 2,348 adults (55% male) aged 25 to 75 years (M = 46.3), who were married or cohabitating. Positive and negative social exchanges were more strongly related to psychological well-being than to health. For both sexes, partner support and strain and family support were predictive of well-being measures; partner strain was also predictive of health problems. However, family strain was predictive of well-being and health outcomes more often for women. Further, while we did find evidence that supportive networks could buffer the detrimental effects of strained interactions, friends and family served a buffering role more often for women than for men.

Widening the social context of disablement among married older adults: Considering the role of nonmarital relationships for loneliness

“…We examined non-spousal relations in general as preliminary analyses indicated that relationships with non-spouse family and friends were not distinctive among married older adults in NSHAP. Yet, such relationships have different properties and the effects of social support and strain from these separate sources may have unique effects on well-being (Berkman et al, 2000;Procidano and Heller, 1983;Walen and Lachman, 2000). Additional studies with more nuanced data on social support from nonspouse family and friends are therefore clearly required to offer a more refined examination of the wider social context of disablement.…”

“…Prior studies have found limited evidence for cross-domain buffering. For example, drawing on a sample of partnered (overwhelmingly married) persons from the Midlife in the United States study (MIDUS), Walen and Lachman (2000) found that non-spousal support ameliorated the negative association between partner strain and mood. Thus, in the context of the present study, we might expect that non-spousal support may be of increased importance for disabled older adults in low quality marriages-with non-spousal support potentially compensating for (and strain potentially amplifying) the deleterious effects of a low quality marriage (Hawkins and Booth, 2005).…”

“…Given that women's non-spousal relations are qualitatively better than are men's, non-spousal social support may more effectively moderate the effect of functional limitations on loneliness among older women. Indeed, Walen and Lachman (2000) found that only among women did friend support buffer the effect of marital partner strain on life satisfaction, negative mood, and positive mood. Of course, women's nonmarital relationships may not be uniformly beneficial.…”

“…Of course, women's nonmarital relationships may not be uniformly beneficial. Women experience more negative interactions with social ties (Turner, 1994), and such interpersonal strain, especially with respect to relationships with family, leads to more negative mood among women (Walen and Lachman, 2000). Thus, we might expect that greater strain in nonmarital relations may exacerbate loneliness among physically-disabled women more so than men.…”

Women and the implantable cardioverter defibrillator: A lifespan perspective on key psychosocial issues

“…'~Social support is utilized as acoping mechanism more often by women and is emphasized by the multiple roles they often assume. 15 Taylor ef al. suggest that women's stress reaction is often characterized by a"tend and befriend response, rather than the "fight or flight" response more t y p ical of men.…”