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The relationship between self-reported received and perceived social support: A meta-analytic review

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American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

Social support is broad term encompassing a variety of constructs, including support perceptions (perceived support) and receipt of supportive behaviors (received support). Of these constructs, only perceived support has been regarded as consistently linked to health, and researchers have offered differing assessments of the strength of the received-perceived support relationship. An overall estimate of the received-perceived support relationship would clearly further the dialogue on the relationship between received and perceived support and thus assist in the theoretical development of the field. This study evaluated all available studies using the Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors (ISSB; Barrera, Sandler, & Ramsey, 1981, American Journal of Community Psychology, 9, 435–447) and any measure of perceived social support. Using effect sizes from 23 studies, we found an average correlation of r = .35, p < .001. Implications of this estimate for further development of models of social support as well as interventions to enhance social support are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Brian Lakey and Ardis Hanson for their helpful assistance with this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    Mason G. Haber, Jay L. Cohen & Boris B. Baltes

  2. Center for Behavioral and Decision Sciences in Medicine, VA Ann Arbor Health Care System & University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Todd Lucas

  3. Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Mason G. Haber

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  1. Mason G. Haber
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Correspondence to Mason G. Haber.

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Haber, M.G., Cohen, J.L., Lucas, T. et al. The relationship between self-reported received and perceived social support: A meta-analytic review. Am J Community Psychol 39, 133–144 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-007-9100-9

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