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Updated: Nov 24, 2025

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Knowing you are there makes the difference: perceived social support, preferences for using support, and health
Jenna M Wilson1, Kelly Smith1, JoNell Strough1
1Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, United States.
Abstract:
Using cluster analysis, we investigated whether perceived social support and individual differences in preferences to use support combined to form distinct profiles. Self-report data were collected from U.S. adults (N = 454; aged 40-90, Mage = 55.37, SD = 9.73). Four profiles were identified: disengaged, interpersonally connected, isolated independent, and connected independent. Profiles characterized by high perceived support were associated with better overall health, even among those who preferred not to use support; men and those not married or cohabiting were less likely to be in these profiles. Implications for understanding associations between social support and health and the identification of at-risk groups are discussed.
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