Manipulating the type and source of social support: An experimental investigation.

Abstract

The present research investigates whether various types of support are distinguishable from each other, and assesses whether the stress/outcome relationship depends on the type and/or source of support. In two separate vignette studies, both the type of support (emotional, instrumental, informational, appraisal) and its source (family, friends, boyfriend, or professor) were manipulated. In both studies respondents distinguished between instrumental, informational, and appraisal support, and they also perceived these types of support as emotional in content. The type of support, but not its source, was perceived by respondents as being important for predicting outcome. Comparing subjects' ratings of perceived outcome across types of support, it was found that subjects in the informational condition predicted the most positive outcome. However, since subjects perceived that informational support was also emotional, it is concluded that it is the perceived combination of informational and emotional support that is most effective in buffering any negative outcome of stress. Implications for the construct validity of social support, and for future research using the social support construct, are discussed. One frequently debated issue concerning the conceptualization of social support is whether or not there are distinguishable types of support. Determining whether social support is a global construct or comprised of distinguishable types has implications for understanding the influence of social support on stress/outcome relationships. A second area of disagreement is whether the source of social support affects its influence on stress/outcome relationships. There continues to be disagreement concerning the conceptualization of social support, primarily because most research employs a non-experimental methodology which confounds various types and sources of support. When social support is conceptualized in terms of specific types, the number and nature of such categorizations are inconsistent. For example, Gottlieb (1978) delineates five different types of social support: emotional, sustaining behaviour, indirect personal influence, problem-solving behaviour, and environmental action on the individual's behalf. Abdel-Halim (1982) suggests that there are two types of social support: emotional and instrumental. Barrera and Ainley (1983) identify six types of social support: material aid, behavioural assistance, intimate interaction, guidance, feedback, and positive social interaction.