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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Stress, social support, and psychological distress among the Chinese elderly
Abstract:
This study examined the relationships among stress, social support, and depressive symptoms with data provided by a large representative sample (N = 2,721) of older adults who live in the People's Republic of China. Many Western investigators believe that elderly people respond to stressful experiences by mobilizing assistance from their significant others. However, recent American studies suggest that this may not always be true, and that when certain stressors arise, older adults may actually receive less support from significant others. The purpose of our study was to evaluate these competing views in a culturally diverse setting. The findings reveal that both perspectives have something to offer and that financial strain (i.e., one kind of stressor) may increase some kinds of assistance (i.e., economic support) at the same time that it erodes other types of support (e.g., emotional support).
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