Social Support

Great Essays
1. Shor, et al. (2013) and Chen, et al. (2012) focus their studies on social support received from individuals. Though there are some similarities in their findings, there are also some strong differences. Shor places an emphasis on the different levels of support received from family members and friends. Overall, there is a positive correlation between support and health. In comparing people who receive a lot of support versus those who do not, there is a strong difference in the health benefits. However, there is no higher risk of mortality when comparing those who have low support versus those with no support. Furthermore, social support is beneficial, but the extent to which it helps is not that large. Also, it was concluded that low support …show more content…
The benefits of friendship for males involve having someone there to do activities with whereas women tend to talk more and have support via intimate conversations. Men also have a level of intimacy when it comes to conversations, but they do not engage. Weiss six provisions of social relationships are: attachment, social integration, reassurance of worth, guidance, reliable alliance, and the opportunity to provide nurturing. These parallel the benefits of friendship which include: expressing positive emotion, supporting feelings or beliefs, offering information and advice, giving material aid, helping with a task, and letting someone know they are part of a supportive network. These factors are important in developing friendships in which individuals feel supported and can provide support for others. Women’s friendships are categorized by communication; thus, they benefit the most out of emotional support whereas men’s friendships are categorized by activities, therefore they benefit from instrumental …show more content…
Based on the articles and the information provided throughout the course I conclude that social relationships require work in order to get benefits. Although people will benefit from strong relationships and networks, they must also be willing and able to provide resources. Though this will vary greatly due to factors such as age, race, socio-economic status, gender, it is important to have at least a couple of established relationships in order to relieve stress. Overall health is not dependent on having many relationships, however health can be positively influenced if one has financial and emotional support. Not having emotional support, companionship support, and material support can limit an individual’s potential to succeed and live a life that is healthier. With an increased influence on media as a main source to receive support, individuals should place more value on strengthening the physical relationships around them as they can become their main source of

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