Understanding the stress process: linking social support with locus of control beliefs

Although researchers generally agree that social support reduces the impact of stress on psychological well-being, little is known about how this stress-buffering effect actually takes place. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that social support operates by bolstering internal locus of control beliefs. Data from a longitudinal study of older adults suggest that the relationship between support and perceived control is nonlinear. Increases in social support tend to increase feelings of control, but only up to a certain threshold. Beyond this point, additional support tends to decrease feelings of personal control. This nonlinear relationship was observed with emotional support and integration (i.e., support provided to others) but not with informational or tangible support.