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Social support and human development: Issues in theory, research, and practice

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Abstract

The physical and psychological correlates and consequences of social support have received much attention in the past decade. To date, however, much research on social support has not been guided by an integrated theoretical or conceptual framework. In this report, a life span developmental perspective is suggested for the study of social support. The discussion addresses numerous conceptual, theoretical, and empirical concerns related to the investigation of support. Implications for designing, implementing, and evaluating support-related interventions are highlighted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Health Behavior Research, Washington University School of Medicine, 33 South Euclid Avenue, 2nd floor, 63108, St. Louis, MO

    Cathleen M. Connell PhD (Research Fellow)

Authors
  1. Cathleen M. Connell PhD
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  2. Anthony R. D'Augelli PhD
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Additional information

Cathleen M. Connell, Ph.D. is a Research Fellow in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Lipid Research, at the Washington University School of Medicine. Anthony R. D'Augelli, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at The Pennsylvania State University.

This research was funded in part by a National Institute on Aging pre-doctoral training grant to The Pennsylvania State University (#T32-AG00048) and a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute post-doctoral training grant, Nutrition-Behavioral Cardiovascular Disease Prevention (#5T32-HL07456) to the Washington University School of Medicine.

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Connell, C.M., D'Augelli, A.R. Social support and human development: Issues in theory, research, and practice. J Community Health 13, 104–114 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01364205

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