Evaluating the Scope and Theoretical Mechanisms of Person-Centered Social Support: The Case of the Comforting Computer Program

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-540
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Rains ◽  
Corey A. Pavlich ◽  
Eric Tsetsi ◽  
Chelsie Akers
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Computer Program ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Feedback Path ◽  
Personal Problem ◽  
Theoretical Mechanism ◽  
Path Models ◽  
Low Levels

Although the utility of verbal person-centeredness (VPC) as a feature of social support messages has been demonstrated in numerous studies, questions remain about the scope and theoretical mechanisms that explain VPC effects. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate whether the salutary effects of VPC extend to generic VPC messages and to explore the role of validation as a theoretical mechanism. Participants discussed a personal problem with a fictional computer program named “ListenerBot” that provided standardized responses containing high or low levels of VPC. Participants who received high VPC feedback from ListenerBot experienced a greater reduction in emotional distress than participants who received low VPC feedback. Path models consistently showed that high VPC feedback validated participants’ feelings, which led them to reappraise their situation and ultimately reduced their emotional distress. VPC, however, did not impact participants’ discussion of their thoughts and emotions.

Support seeker expectations, support message quality, and supportive interaction processes and outcomes: The case of the comforting computer program revisited

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 647-666
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Rains ◽  
Corey A. Pavlich ◽  
Bethany Lutovsky ◽  
Eric Tsetsi ◽  
Anjali Ashtaputre
Keyword(s):  
Computer Program ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Personal Relationships ◽  
Supportive Communication ◽  
Complete Understanding ◽  
Interaction Processes ◽  
Personal Problem ◽  
Prime Condition

Developing a complete understanding of supportive communication in personal relationships requires considering the role of support seekers. We examined the influence of seeker expectations and verbal person centeredness (VPC) on the nature and outcomes of supportive interactions. Participants discussed a personal problem during an interaction with a fictional computer program called “ListenerBot.” Participants’ expectations about the helpfulness of ListenerBot and the quality of ListenerBot’s feedback in the form of VPC were manipulated. Participants in the helpful prime condition wrote more words during the interaction and evaluated ListenerBot more favorably than participants in the unhelpful prime condition. Relative to participants who received low VPC feedback, participants who received high VPC feedback evaluated ListenerBot more positively and experienced a greater reduction in emotional distress. Tests for indirect effects showed that VPC and the expectations prime contributed to participants’ reduction in emotional distress through influencing their evaluations of ListenerBot.

Burden, quality of life, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among caregivers of hemodialysis patients: The role of social support

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 397-407
Author(s):  
Madihah Shukri ◽  
Mohd Azman Mustofai ◽  
Md Aris Safree Md Yasin ◽  
Tuan Sharipah Tuan Hadi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Hemodialysis Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Caregiving Burden ◽  
Low Levels

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine how burden and quality of life predict anxiety and depressive symptoms among caregivers of hemodialysis patients. Social support was included in the model as a proposed moderator in the above relationships. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 340 caregivers of chronic kidney patients undergoing hemodialysis. The setting was in Terengganu, Malaysia. The caregivers completed the measures of caregiving burden, quality of life, social support, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Results About 28.8% and 52.4% of caregivers showed clinically moderate levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. Furthermore, 35.9% and 3.8% of them showed clinically high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. Analyses showed that general quality of life was a significant predictor of both anxiety and depressive symptoms. Burden and psychological domains of quality of life significantly predicted anxiety. In addition, a lack of social support was a determinant of depressive symptoms. Evidence suggested that social support moderated the burden–anxiety relationship. Specifically, caregivers with low levels of social support showed more elevated levels of anxiety symptoms when their burden was higher. Conclusion There is an urgent need for early detection to initiate prompt treatment in this population. The study provides some important insights into offering comprehensive intervention to help caregivers cope more effectively through the provision of sufficient social support to buffer the effects of caregiving burden and improve mental health.

The Possible Role of Companion-Animal Anthropomorphism and Social Support in the Physical and Psychological Health of Dog Guardians

2010 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolina M. Duvall Antonacopoulos ◽  
Timothy A. Pychyl
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Companion Animal ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Physical And Psychological Health ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractWhile previous research suggests that individuals who humanize their companion animals may have insufficient human social support (Epley, Waytz, & Cacioppo, 2007), researchers have not examined the relation between companion-animal anthropomorphism and the health of animal guardians while taking into consideration their human social support levels. It was hypothesized that dog guardians with low levels of human social support would have poorer health if they engaged in high rather than low levels of anthropomorphism, while the health of dog guardians with high levels of human social support would not vary depending on their anthropomorphism levels. A sample of 203 Canadian dog guardians completed an online survey. Results revealed that, among dog guardians with low levels of human social support, those who engaged in high levels of anthropomorphism were more depressed, visited the doctor more often, and took more medications. Furthermore, among dog guardians with high levels of human social support, those who engaged in high levels of anthropomorphism were more stressed and depressed. These findings highlight the complexity of the relationship between anthropomorphic behavior, human social support, and dog guardians’ health.

How Social Support Affects Moral Disengagement: the Role of Anger And Hostility

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Yanni Shen ◽  
Xiaojian Sun ◽  
Tao Xin
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Moral Disengagement ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Multiple Mediation ◽  
Social Support Scale ◽  
Aggression Questionnaire ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
The Relationship

We investigated the mediating roles of anger and hostility in the relationship between social support and moral disengagement. Participants were 315 college students who completed the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Aggression Questionnaire to assess anger and hostility, and the Moral Disengagement Questionnaire. Multiple mediation analysis results indicated that high levels of anger and hostility were associated with low levels of social support and high levels of moral disengagement. In addition, the total indirect effects and specific indirect effect of social support on moral disengagement through anger and hostility were all significant, suggesting that anger and hostility mediated the relationship between social support and moral disengagement. Implications of these findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Understanding the Association between School Belonging and Emotional Health in Adolescents

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gökmen Arslan
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
School Belonging ◽  
Emotional Wellbeing ◽  
Male Adolescents ◽  
School Settings ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Main Effects

Given the literature suggesting the link between school belonging and various outcomes in adolescents, it is substantial to gain a more detailed understanding of the sense of belonging and its effects at school. Despite this literature, its potential impacts on emotional health have remained relatively unexplored. To this end, the present study reports the role of the school belonging in promoting emotional health based on the bidimensional model in high school adolescents. Participants comprised of 413– 49.7% female and 50.3% male– adolescents, ranging in age between 11 and 18 years (M = 13.96, SD = 1.64). Findings from the present study demonstrated that adolescents with high levels of the school belonging have low levels of the emotional distress, yet high levels of the emotional wellbeing. Additionally, significant main effects for emotional wellbeing, emotional distress, and bidimensional emotional health were observed across all school belonging scales. Considering the outcomes of the bidimensional emotional health, the larger effect size for the bidimensional emotional health main effect was found for school belonging, comparing with unidimensional emotional wellbeing and distress.  Results of the study provide important implications for research and practice in term of mental health services in school settings. 

The role of family and friend social support in reducing emotional distress among HIV-positive women

AIDS Care ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Serovich ◽  
J. A. Kimberly ◽  
K. E. Mosack ◽  
T. L. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Hiv Positive Women

scholarly journals Social Support as a Resource for Ensuring the Subjective Well-being of Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-58
Author(s):  
E.K. Veselova ◽  
E.Yu. Korjova ◽  
O.V. Rudykhina ◽  
T.V. Anisimova
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Russian Language ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Assistance Service

Objective. Analysis of the role of social support in ensuring the subjective well-being of students. Background. Subjective well-being is an integral experience of physical, psychological, and social health. Social support as an important resource of subjective well-being of young people has not yet received comprehensive coverage. Study design. We studied the differences between students with high and low levels of subjective well-being in terms of attitude to social support and readiness to apply for it. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, and comparative analysis were used for data processing. Participants. The study involved 850 respondents. The sample includes students of different courses and faculties of universities in Saint Petersburg and Novosibirsk. Measurements. To collect empirical data, Russian-language versions of the following methods were used: 1) Multidimensional Scale of Perception of Social support — MSPSS by D. Zimet; 2) The Multidi-mensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MHC-SF) — screening version of the test by C. Keyes to assess subjective well-being; 3) The General Help Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ). Results. Students are more willing to seek help from people in their immediate environment (romantic partners, friends, parents, relatives) than from specialists (psychologists, doctors, religious figures). There are significant differences between students with high and low levels of subjective well-being in terms of intent to search for different types of social support. Conclusions. There is a large gap in students’ perception of the effectiveness of informal types of support (from family, friends, relatives, significant persons) and formal, professional types of support (psychologists, doctors, helpline). Informal types of support enjoy a degree of trust higher than that of professional types of support. That is why it is necessary to organize and improve the student assistance service at higher educational institutions

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