Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 17, 2025
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The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
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Dysfunctional Social Support: Delivering Social Support at Work in an Unappreciative Way.
Norbert K Semmer1,2, Wolfgang Kälin1,2, Fabienne T Amstad3
1Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, Bern, 3012 Switzerland.
Occupational Health Science
|July 4, 2025
Summary
Even well-intentioned workplace social support can be a stressor if delivered inappropriately. The Bern Dysfunctional Social Support Scale (BDSSS) measures these subtle threats to self-esteem, highlighting potential harm in occupational health.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health Science
- Psychology
- Social Science
Background:
- Self-esteem is crucial, with Stress-as-Offense-to-Self theory examining threats and boosts to the self.
- Workplace social support is typically a resource, but can backfire and act as a stressor.
- The delivery of social support matters; poorly delivered support can contain derogatory messages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate the Bern Dysfunctional Social Support Scale (BDSSS).
- To assess the impact of dysfunctional social support on employee strain and attitudes.
- To understand how subtle derogatory messages in support attempts can threaten the self.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 468 Swiss employees.
- Utilized the Bern Dysfunctional Social Support Scale (BDSSS).
- Analyzed associations with strain, attitudes, and demographic/psychological variables.
Main Results:
- The BDSSS was associated with strain and attitudes, indicating dysfunctional support acts as a stressor.
- Dysfunctional support explained variance beyond demographics, neuroticism, and other stressors.
- Effects were not strong but statistically significant, suggesting a subtle impact.
Conclusions:
- The BDSSS is a valuable tool for measuring threats within social support attempts.
- Results highlight the need to address potential pitfalls in support delivery in the workplace.
- Sensitizing employees and supervisors to the risks of offending support is recommended.
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