Positive Social Support, Negative Social Exchanges, and Suicidal Behavior in College Students

The role of negative social exchanges that amplify the association between stressor and depressive symptoms was examined. Data collected from 121 female college students (mean age = 18.9, SD = 0.7) were analyzed to determine whether the effect of life event stress on depression differs depending on participants' negative exchanges with members of their social network. The results indicated that the association between the total number of experienced life events and depressive symptoms was not amplified by negative exchanges. However, analyses testing life events individually indicated that negative exchanges significantly amplified the association of depressive symptoms with life events that were related to participants' financial strain or salient social roles.

Download Full-text

College students' perceived positive social support and hindrance for exercise

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e522862008-001 ◽

2008 ◽

Author(s):

Lindsay C. Morton ◽

Deborah Kendzierski ◽

Lauren Nohe

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

College Students ◽

Positive Social Support

Download Full-text

Social Support is Associated with Better Health in the Face of COVID-19

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.2747 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 745-745

Author(s):

Laura Bernstein ◽

Julie Hicks Patrick

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

The United States ◽

First Year ◽

Latent Growth ◽

Change Over Time ◽

Social Exchanges ◽

Age Related ◽

The Face ◽

Positive Social Support ◽

Over Time

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to influence the health of the nation, both directly and indirectly, though increased stress. As with other stressful crises, social support may buffer against the deleterious effects of the stress surrounding COVID-19 (Cohen & Wills, 1985). We were interested in how self-reported health changed during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and whether age or positive social exchanges influenced this potential change. We tested a latent growth curve model of change in SF12 scores over 4 points of measurement during the first year of the pandemic. Data from 237 adults (Mean age 40.7 yrs) were used to test whether SF12 scores changed over the 11 month period and whether age and initial positive social exchanges influenced both the intercept and trajectory of change over time. Results showed that the model fit the data well, X2 (DF = 13, N = 237) = 11.44, p = .57, RMSEA < .06. Of note, older age was associated with both better initial health (b = .036**) and a slower decrease over the year (b = -.005*). Initial positive social exchanges were associated with better initial health (b = .067*) but did not alter the trajectory of change over time. These findings suggest an age-related advantage for health in the face of COVID-19 and that positive social support is associated with better health, at least at the very beginning of the pandemic.

Download Full-text

Testing the Strain Theory of Suicide – The Moderating Role of Social Support

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000604 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 82-88 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bob Lew ◽

Ksenia Chistopolskaya ◽

Yanzheng Liu ◽

Mansor Abu Talib ◽

Olga Mitina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Suicidal Behavior ◽

Online Survey ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Strain Theory ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological Strains ◽

Moderating Role

Abstract. Background: According to the strain theory of suicide, strains, resulting from conﬂicting and competing pressures in an individual's life, are hypothesized to precede suicide. But social support is an important factor that can mitigate strains and lessen their input in suicidal behavior. Aims: This study was designed to assess the moderating role of social support in the relation between strain and suicidality. Methods: A sample of 1,051 employees were recruited in Beijing, the capital of China, through an online survey. Moderation analysis was performed using SPSS PROCESS Macro. Social support was measured with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and strains were assessed with the Psychological Strains Scale. Results: Psychological strains are a good predictor of suicidality, and social support, a basic need for each human being, moderates and decreases the effects of psychological strains on suicidality. Limitations: The cross-sectional survey limited the extent to which conclusions about causal relationships can be drawn. Furthermore, the results may not be generalized to the whole of China because of its diversity. Conclusion: Social support has a tendency to mitigate the effects of psychological strains on suicidality.

Download Full-text