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Updated: Jul 30, 2026
11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
To whom do people turn when things go poorly? Task orientation and functional social contacts
1Department of Psychology, Princeton University, New Jersey 08544-1010, USA.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|August 1, 1995
Summary
This study shows that emotional support helps with negative feelings, while informational support aids self-improvement, especially for those with low well-being. People seek the type of social support they most need.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Social support is crucial for psychological well-being.
- Different types of social support may serve distinct functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the specific benefits and uses of emotional and informational social support.
- To understand how individuals with low well-being utilize social support.
Main Methods:
- Experience-sampling methodology was employed to collect data.
- The study analyzed the relationship between social support and psychological states.
Main Results:
- Emotional support buffered negative psychological states.
- Informational support facilitated mastery-related states in individuals with low well-being.
- Individuals sought specific types of support based on their social goals and needs.
Conclusions:
- Distinct types of social support serve unique and essential roles in psychological health.
- Social support seeking is a targeted behavior aligned with individual needs and aspirations.
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