Why Is Enacted Social Support Associated With Increased Distress? Using Simulation to Test Two Possible Sources of Spuriousness

Abstract

Although perceiving that social support is available is often associated with psychological benefits in times of stress, there is evidence that actually receiving support is associated with increased distress. To assess whether this latter association could be spurious, the authors conducted computer simulation studies to examine two theoretical models that could give rise to it. Study 1 examined a process whereby distress leads to provision of support rather than the reverse. Study 2 examined a process whereby an adverse event increases both support and distress. In both cases, substantial spurious associations were produced only when parameter values were markedly unrealistic. It was concluded that these possible sources of spuriousness are insufficient to explain the association between support and distress found in naturalistic studies.

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

“…Besides this, our research indicated crucial age differences: Among older individuals negative effects of received social support may be no longer evident which is in line with SST assuming a social network constellation with more emotionally meaningful interaction partners (Carstensen et al 1999). Importantly, these findings also held when controlling for previous-day NA, implying that received emotional support was not just a reaction of the social network to a higher level of NA in the younger participants (''reverse causation,' ' Seidman et al 2006). Those findings have several conceptual implications for current models of socio-cognitive aging.…”

“…Taking changes across time into account is especially important, because one potential mechanism for the negative associations between received social support and well-being is ''reverse causation.'' This means that people with lower well-being receive more social support (Seidman et al 2006). This study applied a daily-diary design to control for the possibility of reverse causation and to investigate possible short-term reactions to receipt of support.…”

“…Associations in the opposite directions were predicted for younger persons. These differential age effects should hold when controlling for previous-day positive or NA, thereby excluding the possibility of reverse causation (Seidman et al 2006). Second, further extending the literature, we aimed at testing whether the association between different sources of support and PA and NA might be moderated by age.…”

“…Second, the receipt of support could simply be a reaction of the social environment to an increased stress level (i.e., low well-being) of an individual (''reverse causation'', Seidman et al 2006). Third, the support received might not meet the needs of the recipient (e.g., Martire et al 2002).…”

Receiving support as a mixed blessing: Evidence for dual effects of support on psychological outcomes.

“…In addition, by demonstrating the effects in both highly stressed individuals (ex-aminees) and less stressed individuals (partners), we feel confident that support receipt can have these mixed effects regardless of overall stress level. Furthermore, the simulation study by Seidman et al (2006) concluded that the negative effects associated with support receipt in naturalistic studies could not reasonably be caused by co-occurring negative events-the parameter values needed for such an association were unrealistic. Finally, a recent experimental study demonstrated the negative effects of support receipt on mood (Bolger & Amarel, 2007).…”