Journal of Social Issues · 1985 · 377 citations · 44 references
Social SciencesPsychologySocial PsychologyApplied Social PsychologyGroup DynamicsIntergroup RelationsCoping StrategiesEmotional SupportPsychosocial SupportSocial StressSocial SupportBuffering HypothesisPsychological Distress PreventionSocial Class VariationSocial Support BufferingSocial Support FunctionsSubpopulation DynamicsSubpopulation EffectsSupport Effects
Research on social support has largely focused on specific groups, with few studies comparing support across populations. This study investigates whether social support can explain psychological distress differences among subpopulations. The authors review studies that compare support levels and effects across sex, ethnicity, and age groups. Results show that support levels and effectiveness differ across subgroups, with stress‑buffering and direct‑effect functions varying by group, highlighting the need for further research.
Much of the research conducted on social support over the last decade has focused on specific population groups. Until recently, very little work compared social support across groups. The importance of this type of research is discussed, including the potential role of social support in explaining subpopulation differences in psychological distress. Studies are reviewed that compare support and support effects across sex, ethnic, and age groups. In general, the findings suggest that levels of some aspects of support and the effectiveness of support components vary across these subgroups. Even the stress‐buffering versus direct‐effect functions of social support may vary across subgroups, as illustrated by one study focusing on social class. The implications of these studies and directions for future research are discussed.
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