Social Support: Health Benefits from Social Relations

Abstract

In this chapter, social support theory is presented. Social support is defined according to its structure and functions. The direct effect and buffer effect hypotheses link social support to health. Social support depends on both situation and perception, relating social support theory to both attachment theory and cognitive schemas. Social support is important at work, and the fact that men live shorter lives than women may partly be explained by men not typically having a large network of support outside work. Moreover, this chapter brings forward the stress-match theory, which states that the given support should match the threatening stressor.