The Implications Of Social Support As An Interpersonal Support

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House (1981) defined social support as "an interpersonal transaction involving one or more of the following: (1) emotional concern (liking, loving, empathy), (2) instrumental aid (goods or services), (3) information (about the environment), or (4) appraisal (information relevant to self-evaluation)" (Schaefer et al., 1981). Such support can come from a variety of individuals, including a spouse or partner, children, other family members, and friends. Thoits (1986) argues that social support is more effective when it comes from those who are socially similar in values and characteristics, and who are facing or have faced similar stressors somewhat more successfully. Spouses are a likely source of socially similar others, and given the interdependent …show more content…

The primacy of spousal support is also evident in research examining physical health outcomes. Reductions of depression in arthritis patients is related to positive support received from the spouse (Schiaffino & Revenson, 1995). Spousal support increases motivations to improve health for heart transplant patients (Rogers, 1987). The marital relationship prior to, and supportive interaction after the intervention, are also associated with the adjustment of cancer patients (Gritz et al., 1990). Social support in marriage can be operationalized in a number of ways, each of which may help elucidate its role in marital functioning. Support can be defined as the number or quality of support behaviors received in marital interactions (received support). This is typically assessed via observational coding systems that allow outside observers to code the occurrence of support behavior. Support can also be thought of as the perception of spouses as to the availability or adequacy of support provided by the partner (perceived

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