The Social Support Process in Men: Overcoming Sex-Role Obstacles

Abstract

While recent research has indicated that men's social support resources may be inferior to women's due to societal sex roles, the literature on the consequences of this disadvantage has been mixed. This study explored the hypothesis that men have developed methods of obtaining support which do not conflict with their masculine values. It was proposed that (1) men prefer to receive nurturance from women, and (2) social drinking may facilitate supportive exchanges involving males by easing restrictions against traditionally feminine behaviors. The results were consistent with these hypotheses. It was found that the level of the 205 male subjects' belief in traditional sex-role values was negatively related to a number of social support variables. The subjects also reported a clear preference for females as primary sources of emotional support. Finally, social drinking was found to be a significant positive factor in supportive exchanges particularly when they occurred between men.