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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Gender moderates the effects of independence and dependence desires during the social support process
Alexander J Nagumey1, John W Reich, Jason Newsom
1Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104, USA. alenguy@msn.com
Abstract:
This investigation examined the roles of gender and desires for independence and dependence in the support process. We assessed 118 older adults who reported needing help with at least 1 activity of daily living as a result of illness or health problems. Men with a high desire to be independent responded negatively to receiving support from their social network. Women's outcomes were generally unaffected by their independence and dependence desires. These results indicate that gender and desires for independence and dependence should be taken into account when examining the social support process, especially in men with health problems.
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