Content area
Full Text
The aim of this study was to investigate the direct and indirect effects of social support on psychological well-being. Social support was evaluated under two different categories which were named as Aid-Related and Appreciation-Related Social Support. The first category was more related to potential for receiving help from others when needed, and being cared for by others, while the latter category was more related to being recognized by others as an efficient source of help and reassurance of worth. Undergraduate university students (N = 342) served as subjects, and results revealed that aid-related social support and psychological well-being (i.e., alleviated depression symptoms) association was partially mediated by experiencing fewer life stresses. On the other hand, appreciation-related social support had a direct effect on psychological well-being. Implications of these results are discussed.
In general, there seems to be strong evidence for the link between lack of social support and the risk of psychopathology, particularly in the case of affective disorders (Monroe & Steiner, 1986; Solomon, 1985). Depressed people tend to have less social support, report less contact with friends, have fewer friends nearby who can help, and have less satisfaction with friends and relatives (Flaherty, Gaviria, Black, Altman, & Mitchell, 1983; Leavy, 1983). It is argued that support can be related to overall well-being because it provides individuals with positive affect, a sense of predictability (experiences of mastery and control), and recognition of self-worth and self-esteem (Cohen & Wills, 1985; Rodin & Salovey, 1989).
Cutrona and her colleague (Cutrona & Russell, 1987; Russell & Cutrona, 1984) assess general perceived social support on the basis of 6 provisions defined by Weiss (1974). Among these 6 provisions reliable alliance, attachment, guidance, and social integration comprise being informed and assisted, and the remaining two are the feelings of belongingness and being cared for. Thus these first four provisions are the ones that one would like to access when confronted with a problem. Hence, in the present study, the support areas encompassed by these four provisions will be called "Aid-Related Social Support". On the other hand, opportunity for nurturance and reassurance of worth are the provisions that are more related with feelings of self-worth and competence. Thus, in this study the support areas encompassed by these two provisions will...