Perspectives on Social Support and Research on Stress Moderating Processes

Abstract

This article provides a guide to current approaches in research on social support processes in stress moderation. It describes three major models of social support processes and emphasizes the importance of making explicit the particular model of stress buffering that is being investigated. The article underscores the importance of designing a study that leads to statements about the effects of specific supports in specific types of situations. This can be achieved through study of more ongoing stress in particular life roles. The relationship between social support and personality moderators is discussed as well as the debate on objectivity and subjectivity in measurement.