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Related Concept Videos

Social Relationships and Well-Being01:30

Social Relationships and Well-Being

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The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
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Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques V01:28

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques V

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A social support system is a structured network of personal relationships that provides assistance to individuals facing various challenges, offering a buffer against psychological and physical stressors. This network may consist of family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, or other community members who provide resources and companionship. Social support can take many forms, including advice, emotional comfort, practical help, and companionship. Research indicates that these networks can...
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Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects01:29

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Self-discrepancy theory explains how people compare their actual self to their ideal and ought selves and how mismatches between these self-guides can lead to emotional distress. Developed by E. Tory Higgins, the theory distinguishes among three components of self-concept: the actual self, the ideal self, and the ought self. These refer respectively to how individuals perceive themselves, how they aspire to be, and how they believe they are obligated to be. Emotional well-being, self-esteem,...
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Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development01:30

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Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
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Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

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One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.  
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What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
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Gender Differences in the Longitudinal Relationship Between Psychological Distress and Perceived Social Support.

Kieren J Lilly1, Natalia M Simionato2, Fiona Kate Barlow3

  • 1Institute for Social Science Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

Applied Psychology. Health and Well-Being
|April 29, 2026
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Summary

Social support benefits well-being for men and women, but psychological distress impacts men

Keywords:
cross‐lagged panel modelgendermental healthpsychological distresssocial support

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Social support is widely believed to enhance well-being.
  • Longitudinal evidence on social support predicting mental health is limited.
  • Gender differences in these associations are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate gender differences in the longitudinal relationship between perceived social support and psychological distress.
  • To examine the bidirectional effects of social support and psychological distress over time.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized 14 annual waves of a large-scale nationwide panel study (N=75,404).
  • Employed multigroup random intercept cross-lagged panel modeling to analyze within-person effects.
  • Examined interactions with age, sexual identity, and ethnicity.

Main Results:

  • Increases in perceived social support predicted subsequent decreases in psychological distress for both genders.
  • Psychological distress had a stronger negative effect on perceived social support in men compared to women.
  • These distress effects were most pronounced in older, White, and heterosexual men.

Conclusions:

  • Social support positively influences mental health longitudinally for both men and women.
  • Men's psychological distress more significantly erodes their perceived social support than vice versa.
  • Findings highlight the need for gender-tailored mental health interventions.