Stress, Health, and Social Support

Do you ever wonder why many people generally feel better after talking through problems with a trusted friend or family member? Aside from the benefits of having more than one mind working to solve a problem, social support has been shown to buffer the adverse effects of stress. In addition to making you feel better, social support positively influences mortality and morbidity.

Belonging to a social network increases the feeling of self worth with a sense of belonging. The increased confidence it provides allows for better creative thinking and boosts motivation. In terms of behavior, social support encourages informed choices and positive change including healthy practices such as exercise and healthy eating.

With all this good news regarding social support, you might think that hugs can make everything better. However, there may be some negative correlation between depression and social support as well as anxiety and social support. An individual’s perception of social support and how it matches a given stressor play a part in that support’s effectiveness. This might help to explain why social support does not always prevent or resolve episodes of depression and anxiety.

For this Discussion, review this week’s Learning Resources. Then research literature in the Walden Library on social support and its effect on the health condition. Consider how different populations may be at risk for reduced social support.

With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 3

Post by Day 3 a brief explanation of the effects of social support on the health condition. Then describe two populations that are at risk for reduced social support and explain why. Finally, explain two ways you might bridge the gap between the need for and utilization of social support for the populations you selected. Be specific.

Required Readings

Rook, K. S., August, K. J., & Sorkin, D. H. (2011). Social network functions and health. In R. J. Contrada & A. Baum (Eds.), The handbook of stress science: Biology, psychology, and health (pp. 123–135). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Now with the understanding of social support as a coping mechanism as discussed in Week 6, please review Chapter 10, “Social Network Functions and Health” with this new perspective on the effects of social networks when underutilized among various populations.

Uchino, B. N., & Birmingham, W. (2011). Stress and support processes. In R. J. Contrada & A. Baum (Eds.), The handbook of stress science: Biology, psychology, and health (pp. 111–121). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

American Cancer Society. (2012). Sources of support. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/treatment/understandingyourd…

Chao, R. C.-L. (2011). Managing stress and maintaining well-being: Social support, problem-focused coping, and avoidant coping. Journal of Counseling and Development, 89(3), 338–348. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Academic Search Complete database.

Committee on Education and Training, American Psychological Association Division 38. (2012). Becoming a health psychologist. Retrieved from http://www.health-psych.org/AboutHowtoBecome.cfm

Hillenberg, J. B., & DiLorenzo, T. M. (1987). Stress management training in health psychology practice: Critical clinical issues. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 18(4), 402–404. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the PsycARTICLES database.

Keefe, F. J., & Blumenthal, J. A. (2004). Health psychology: What will the future bring? Health Psychology, 23(2), 156–157. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the PsycARTICLES database.

Kraft, P., & Yardley, L. (2009). Current issues and new directions in psychology and health: What is the future of digital interventions for health behavior change? Psychology and Health, 24(6), 615–618. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Academic Search Complete database.

Littrell, J. (2008). The mind-body connection: Not just a theory anymore. Social Work in Health Care, 46(4), 17–37. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the MEDLINE with Full Text database.

Nielsen, K., Taris, T. W., & Cox, T. (2010). The future of organizational interventions: Addressing the challenges of today’s organizations. Work & Stress, 24(3), 219–233.
Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Academic Search Complete database.

Nauert, R. (2011, January 21). Social support helps women beat breast cancer. Psych Central. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/01/21/social-sup…

Schaufeli, W. B., (2004). The future of occupational health psychology. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 53(4), 502–517. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Academic Search Complete database.

Uchino, B. N. (2006). Social support and health: A review of physiological processes potentially underlying links to disease outcomes. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 29(4), 377–387. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Academic Search Complete database.

Wells, J. R., & Anderston, S. T. (2011). Self-efficacy and social support in African Americans diagnosed with end stage renal disease. The ABNF Journal, 22(1), 9–12.
Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Academic Search Complete database.

Yali, A. M., & Revenson, T. A. (2004). How changes in population demographics will impact health psychology: Incorporating a broader notion of cultural competence into the field. Health Psychology, 23(2), 147–155. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the PsycARTICLES database.

American Psychological Association Division 38: Health Psychology. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.health-psych.org/

American Cancer Society. (2012). Find support groups and services in your area. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/SupportProgramsSer…

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). International Journal of Stress Management. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/str/index.aspx

National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Health information: Stress. Retrieved from http://health.nih.gov/topic/Stress