Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Conceptual and Theoretical Dilemmas Facing Social Support Research

  • Chapter
Social Support: Theory, Research and Applications

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASID,volume 24))

Abstract

The past two decades have witnessed an explosion in the number of studies investigating the relationships between the occurrence of a wide variety of social stressors and both physical and psychological symptomatology. These studies come from a number of different fields and a variety of perspectives. Many of these studies have examined the relationships between a variety of specific social stressors and health outcomes. Investigators have focused on reactions to a variety of disasters, both natural (Erikson, 1976) and man-made (Baum, Gatchel, & Schaeffer, 1983), as well as more common stressors such as marriage (Raush, Goodrich, & Campbell, 1966), divorce (Hetherington, Cox, & Cox, 1977), job loss (Cobb, 1974), retirement (Bell, 1975), and bereavement (Lindemann, 1944). A second line of research has focused on the joint or accumulated contributions of a variety of life events to both physical and psychological distress (Dohrenwend & Dohrenwend, 1974; 1981; Rabkin & Struening, 1976). The relatively modest relationship between measures of social stressors and measures of symtomatology and illness behavior has led many researchers to explore the ways in which a variety of biological, psychological, behavioral, and situational factors might moderate the relationship between life stressors and health outcomes (Cohen, Horowitz, Lazarus, Moos, Robins, Rose, & Rutter, 1982; Jenskins, 1979; Johnson & sarason, 1979.

The writing of this chapter was supported by grants to the first author from the National Institute of Handicapped Research and the University of Virginia Policy Council.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Antonovsky, A. (1979). Health, stress and coping. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Averill, J. R. (1979). A selective view of cognitive and behavioral factors involved in the regulation of stress. In R. A. Depue (Ed.), The psychobiology of depressive disorders: Implications for the effects of stress (pp. 365–387 ). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrera, M., Jr., Sandler, I. N., & Ramsay, T. B. (1981). Preliminary development of a scale of social support: Studies of college students. American Journal of Community Psychology. 9. 435–447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baum, A., Catchel, R. J., & Schaeffer, H. A. (1983). Emotional, behavioral, and physiological effects of chronic stress at Three Mile Island. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 51. 565–572.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bell, B. D. (1975). The limitations of crisis theory as an explanatory mechanism in social gerontoloty. International Journal of Aging and Human Development. 6. 153–168.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caplan, G. (1974). Support systems and community mental health: Lectures on concept development. New York: Behavioral Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coates, D., Renzaglia, C. J., and Embree, M. C. (1983). When helping backfires: Help and helplessness. In J. D. Fisher, A. Nadler, and B. M. DePaulo (Eds.), New directions in helping: Vol. 1. Recipient reactions to aid (pp. 251–279 ). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobb, S. (1974). Physiological changes in men whose jobs were abolished. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 18. 245–258.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cobb, S. (1976). Social support as a moderator of life stress. Psychosomitic Medicine, 3, 300–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobb, S. (1979). Social support and health through the life course. In M. V. Riley (Ed.), Aging from birth to death: Interdisciplinary perspectives (pp. 93–106 ). Washington, D.C.: American Association for the Advancement of Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, F., Horowitz, M. J., Lazarus, R. S., Moos, R. H., Robins, L. N., Rose, R. M., and Rutter, M. (1982). Panel report on psychosocial assets and modifiers of stress. In C. R. Elliott and C. Eisdorfer (Eds.), Stress and human health: Analysis and implications for research (pp. 147–188 ). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., & Hoberman, H. M. (1983). Positive events and social supports as buffers of life change stress. Journal of Applied Social Psychology. 13. 99–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., & Mckay, G. (in press).Social support, stress, and the buffering hypothesis: A theoretical analysis.In A. Baum, J. E. Singer, and S. E. Taylor (Eds.),. Handbook of psychology and health(Vol. IV). Hillsdale, NJ:Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1983). Social support, stress and the buffering; hypothesis: A review of naturalistic studies.Unpublished manuscript, Carnegie-Mellon University, Department of Psychology, Pittsburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dohrenwend, B. S., & Dohrenwend, B. P. (Eds.). (1974). Stressful life their nature and effects. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dohrenwend, B. S., & Dohrenwend, B. P. (Eds.). (1981). Stressful life events and their contexts. New York: Prodist.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dovido, J. F., & Gaertner, S. L. (1983). Race, normative structure, and help-seeking. In B. M. DePaulo, A. Nadler, and J. D. Fisher (Eds.), New directions in helping: Vo 1. 2. Help-seeking (pp. 285–302).

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, K. (1976). Everything in its path. New York: Touchstone.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, J. D., DePaulo, B. M., & Nadler, A. (1981). Extending altruism beyond the altruistic act: The mixed effects of aid on the help recipient. In J. P. Rushton and R. M. Sorrentino (Eds.), Altruism and helping behavior: Social, personality, and developmental perspectives (pp. 367–422 ). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, J. D., Nadler, A., & DePaulo, B. N. (Eds.). (1983). New directions in helping: Vol. 1. Recipient reactions to aid. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottlieb, B. H. (1978). The development and application of a classification scheme of informal helping behaviors. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science. 10. 105–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottlieb, B. H. (1981). Preventive interventions involving social networks and social support. In B. K. Gottlieb (Ed.), Social networks and social support (pp. 201–232 ). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottlieb, B. H. (1983). Social support as a focus for integrative research in psychology. American Psychologist. 38. 278–287.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gottlieb, B. H., and Hall, A. (1980). Social networks and the utilization of preventive mental health services. In R. H. Price, R. F. Ketterer, B. C. Bader, and J. Monahan (Eds.), Prevention in mental health: Research, policy, and practice ( 167–194 ). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heller, K., and Swindle, R. V. (1983). Social networks, perceived social support, and coping with stress. In R. D. Felner, L. A. Jason, J. N. Horitsugu, and S. S. Farber (Eds.), Preventive psychology: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 87–103 ). Elmsford, N.Y.: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, S., Byrne, D. G., and Duncan-Jones, P. (1981). Neurosis and the social environment. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, S., Duncan-Jones, P., Byrne, D. G., and Scott, R. (1980). Measuring social relationships: The Interview Schedule for Social Interaction. Psychological Medicine. 10. 723–734. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, J. P., and Stephens, P. M. (1977). Stress, health, and the social environment: A sociobiologic approach to medicine. New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hetherington, E. M., Cox, M., & Cox, R. (1977). The aftermath of divorce. In J. H. Stevens, Jr., and M. Matthews (Eds.), Mother-child. father-child relations (pp. 137–163 ). Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, B. J. (1981). Social networks and the coping process: Creating personal communities. In B. H. Gottlieb (Ed.), Social networks and social support (pp. 149–170 ). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • House, J. S. (1981). Work stress and social support. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • House, J. S., & Wells, J. A. (1978). Occupational stress, social support, and health. In A. McLean, G. Black, and M. Colligan (Eds.), Reducing occupational stress: Proceedings of conference (DHEW-NIOSH Publication No. 78–140) (pp. 8–29 ). Washington, D.C.: U. S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, C. D., Hurst, M. W., & Rose, R. M. (1979). Life changes: Do people really renenber? Archives of General Psychiatry. 36. 379–384.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, J. H., & Sarason, I. G. (1980). Moderator variables in life stress research. In I. G. Sarason & C. D. Spielberger (Eds.), Stress and anxiety (Vol. 6) (pp. 151–167 ). New York: Halstead.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, R. L., & Antonucci, T. C. (1980). Convoys over the life course: Attachment, roles, and social support. In P. B. Bates and O. G. Brim (Eds.), Life-span development and behavior (Vol. 3.) (pp. 253–286 ). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazak, A., & Marvin, R. (in press). Differences, difficulties and adaptations: Stress and social networks in families with handicapped children. Family Relations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazak, A., & Wilcox, B. L.(in press). The structure and function of social support networks in families with handicapped children. American Journal of Community Psychology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korn, S., Chess, S., & Fernandez, P. (1980). The impact of children’s physical handicaps on marital quality and family interaction. In R. Lerner and G. Spanier (Eds.), Child influences on marital and family interaction (pp. 299–326 ). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S. (1966). Psychological stress and the coping process. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S. (1980). The stress and coping process. In L. A. Bond and J. C. Rosen (Eds.), Competence and coping during adulthood (pp. 26–76 ). Hanover, NH: University Preoe of New England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S., Cohen, J. B., Folkman, S., Kanner, A., & Schaefer, C. (1980). Psychological stress and adaptation: Some unresolved issues. In H. Selye (Ed.), Selye’s guide to stress research (Vol. 1 ) (pp. 90 – 117 ). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S., and Launier, R. (1978). Stress-related transactions between person and environment. In L. A. Pervin & M. Lewis (Eds.), Perspectives in interactional psychology (pp. 287–327 ). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewin, K. (1936). Principles of topological psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lindemann, E. (1944). Symptomatology and management of acute grief. American Journal of Psychiatry. 101. 141–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magnusson, D. (1982). Situational determinants of stress: An interactional perspective. In L. Goldberger and S. Breznitz (Eds.), Handbook of stress: Theoretical and clinical aspects (pp. 231–253 ). New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAndrew, I. (1976). Children with a handicap and their families. Child: Care, Health, and Development, 2, 213–237.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McHullen, P. A., and Gross, A. E. (1983). Sex differences, sex roles, and health-related help-seeking. In B. M. DePaulo, A. Nadler, and J. D. Fisher (Eds.), New directions to helping: Vol. 2. Help-seeking (pp. 233–263 ). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mechanic, D. (1962). Students under stress. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyerovitz, B. E. (1980). Psychosocial correlates of breast cancer and its treatment. Psychological Bulletin. 87. 108–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, K., & Iscoe, I. (1963). The concept of crisis: Current status and mental health implications. Human Organization. 22. 195–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monroe, S. M. (1982). Assessment of life events: Retrospective vs. concurrent strategies. Archives of General Psychiatry. 39. 606–610.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R. H., and Mitchell, R. E. (1982). Social network resources and adaptation: A conceptual framework. In T. A. Wills (Ed.), Basic processes in helping relationships (pp. 213–232 ). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moss, C. E. (1973). Illness, immunity, and social interaction. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadler, A. (1983). Personal characteristics and help-seeking. In B. M. DePaulo, A. Nadler, & J. D. Fisher (Eds.), New directions in helping: Vol. 2. Help-seeking (pp. 303–340).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, P., Mensch, I. N., Hccht, E., & Schwartz, A. N. (1972). Variables in reporting of recent life change. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 16. 465–471.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson-LeGall, S., Gumertnan, R. E., & Scott-Jones, D. (1983). Instrumental help-seeking and everyday problem-solving: A developmental perspective. In B. M. Depaulo, A. Nadler, and J. D. Fisher (Eds.), New directions,in helping: Vol. Help-seeking (pp. 265–283 ). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearlin, L. I., Lieberman, M. A., Mcnaghan, E. G., & Mullan, J. T. (1981). The stress process. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 22. 337–356.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pearlin, L. I., & Schooler, C. (1978). The structure of coping. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 19. 2–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pennebaker, J. W. (1982). The psychology of physical symptoms. New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pennebaker, J. W., & Skelton, J. A. (1981). Selective monitoring of bodily sensations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 41. 213–223.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Procidano, M. E., & Heller, K. (1983). Measures of perceived social support from friends and from family: Three validation studies. American Journal of Community Psychology, 11. 1–24.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rabkin, J. G., & Struening, E. L. (1976). Life events, stress, and illness. Science. 194, 1013–1020.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raush, H. L., Goodrich, W., and Campbell, J. D. (1963). Adaptation to the first year of marriage. Psychiatry. 26. 368–380.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sandler, I. N., and Barrera, M., Jr. ( 1980, August). Social support as a stress-buffer: A multi-method investigation. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Montreal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarason, I. G., Levine, H. M., Basham, R. B., and Sarason, B. R. (1983). Assesing social support: The Social Support Questionnaire. Journal of Personality and Social Psycholony. 44. 127–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaefer, C., Coyne, J. C., and Lazarus, R. S. (1981). The health-related functions of social support. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 4, 381–406.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silver, R. L., and Wortman, C. B. (1980). Coping with undesirable life events. In J. Garber and M. E. P. Seligman (Eds.), Human helplessness: Theory and applications (pp. 279–340 ). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thoits, P. A. (1982). Conceptual, methodological, and theoretical problems in studying social support as a buffer against life stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 23. 145–159.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, R. J. (1981). Social support as a contingency in psychological well-being. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 22. 357–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, R. J. (1981). Social support as a contingency in psychological well-being. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 22. 357–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uhlenhuth, E. H., Haberman, S. J., Baiter, M. O., & Lipman, R. S. (1977). Remembering life events. In J. S. Strauss, H. M. Babigian, and M. Roff (Eds.), The origins and course of psychopathology (pp. 117–134 ). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox, B. L. (1979). Life event recency and social support as mediators of the relationship between stressful life events and psycho logical adjustment. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University of Texas, Austin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox, B. L. (1981a). Social support, life stress, and psychological adjustment: A test of the buffering hypothesis. American Journal of Community Psychology, 9, 371–386.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox, B. L. (1981b). Social support in adjusting to marital disruption: A network analysis. In B. H. Gottlieb (Ed.), Social networks and social support (pp. 97–115 ). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox, B. L. ( 1983a, April). Recalling life events: Predictors of distortions in event reporting. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox, B. L. (1983). Depressed mood, life events, and social support: A prospective, longitudinal investigation. Manuscript submitted for publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox, B. L. (in press). Stress, coping, and the social mileau of divorced women. In S. E. Hobfoll (Ed.), Social support, stress. and women. New York: Hemisphere.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox, B. L., & Birkel, R. C. (1983). Social networks and the help-seeking process: A structural perspective. In A. Nadler, J. D. Fisher, and B. X. DePaulo (Eds.), New directions in helping: Vol. 3. Applied perspectives on help-seeking and -receiving (pp. 235–253 ). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wortman, C. B., & Dunkel-Schetter, C. (1979). Interpersonal relationships and cancer: A theoretical analysis. Journal of Social Issues. 35. 120–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yager, J., Grant, I., Sweetwood, H. L., and Gerst, X. (1981). Life event reports by psychiatric patients, nonpatients, and their partners. Archives of General Psychiatry. 38. 343–347.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Virginia, USA

    Brian L. Wilcox & Eric M. Vernberg

Authors
  1. Brian L. Wilcox
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eric M. Vernberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Irwin G. Sarason  & Barbara R. Sarason  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1985 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wilcox, B.L., Vernberg, E.M. (1985). Conceptual and Theoretical Dilemmas Facing Social Support Research. In: Sarason, I.G., Sarason, B.R. (eds) Social Support: Theory, Research and Applications. NATO ASI Series, vol 24. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5115-0_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5115-0_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8761-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-5115-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation