The Relation of Frequency, Satisfaction, and Type of Socially Supportive Behaviors to Psychological Adjustment in Marital Separation

Abstract

The relation of social support to adjustment in marital separation was investigated with 90 participants (42 men and 48 women), separated from 0-14 months. Social support was measured by the Social Support Inventory (SSI) and the Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors (ISSB). The dependent variables were measured by the Brief Sympton Inventory, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Kitson Attachment Scale, and the Divorce Reaction Inventory. Results indicated that: (a) Social support satisfaction and frequency significantly accounted for variance in total symtoms, self- esteem, and attachment above and beyond demographic variables; (b) Dissatisfaction wih social support was positively correlated with total symptoms and negatively correlated with self-esteem; (c) In most cases, social support satisfaction (SSI) was a better predictor of self-esteem, depression, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity, somatic symptoms, and total symptoms than social support frequency (ISSB); and (d) Demographic variables did not account for variance in the criteria, contrary to previous research.