2 - Understanding social support within the context of theory and research on the relationship of life stress and mental health

Summary

In the last two decades there has been a prolific amount of research aimed at investigating the relationship between stressful life experiences and psychological well-being. In Chapter 1 a multi-causal model of the stress–psychological distress relationship has been introduced. In sum, one can best understand this aetiological process in psychiatric disorder by taking into account the personality vulnerabilities/strengths of an individual, the stressors to which he or she is exposed, and the resources which he or she can call upon to help him or her respond to the stressors, be these social resources or coping resources/strategies.

Parallel developments in the life stress and social support research domains

I shall identify in this chapter several parallel themes which have occurred within the subdomains of stress, social support, personality and coping. In identifying some of these parallel developments, new areas of research might be suggested; additionally, I would like to attempt to integrate some of the findings from these various areas, since in doing so I think we can begin to develop a better understanding of how stress exerts its negative effects on psychological functioning and of how social support and these other factors also affect psychological functioning. I will emphasise first some parallel developments in the stress and social support domains, since social support factors are the focus of this book.

Concerns about conceptualisation and measurement of the variables

The first parallel in the stress and the social support domains is the proper conceptualisation and measurement of the concepts.