Culture as a Pathway to Maximizing the Stress-Buffering Role of Social Support

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 294-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belinda Campos ◽  
Ilona S. Yim ◽  
David Busse

We theorized that sociocultural contexts characterized by a form of interdependence that emphasizes mutual obligations, emotional positivity, and readily accessible social support from family may maximize the benefits of social support. This form of interdependence characterizes Latino culture and is captured by the cultural value familism. Eighty-six Latino and non-Latino participants completed measures of familism and perceived social support before taking part in a standardized laboratory stress task that elicits cortisol reactivity. Cortisol reactivity is an indicator of bodily response to stress that is linked to vulnerability to the adverse effects that stress can have on future health. As predicted, results revealed a moderated mediation pattern. Conditional process analysis showed that familism was indirectly linked to cortisol reactivity through perceived social support, and this mediation effect was moderated by sociocultural context; stress buffering effects were only observed in the Latino sample. These novel findings highlight the role of culture and, specifically, familism in Latinos, for maximizing the benefits that social support can have for stress physiology implicated in long-term health outcomes.

2019 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
pp. 107656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmin B. Kofman ◽  
Zoe E. Eng ◽  
David Busse ◽  
Sophia Godkin ◽  
Belinda Campos ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
pp. 003329412094559
Author(s):  
Maya Kagan

Based on the stress-buffering model, the current study sought to examine the moderating role of perceived social support in the association between death anxiety and psychological distress among nurses. Select variables found in previous studies to correlate with psychological distress served in the current study as covariates to control for their relationship with psychological distress among nurses. These include gender, years of professional experience, self-rated health, self-efficacy, and self-defined burnout. Structured questionnaires were administered to a sample of 795 professionally active nurses in Israel. Psychological distress was assessed by the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), death anxiety was assessed by a single item scale designed by Abdel-Khalek, and perceived social support was assessed by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The research findings show that higher levels of death anxiety were associated with higher levels of psychological distress only among nurses with lower levels of perceived social support. The study indicates that in order to reduce the level of distress experienced by nurses it is important to take action to reduce their death anxiety and enhance their social support mechanisms.


Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob Lew ◽  
Ksenia Chistopolskaya ◽  
Yanzheng Liu ◽  
Mansor Abu Talib ◽  
Olga Mitina ◽  
...  

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.


2021 ◽  
pp. 019394592110289
Author(s):  
Madison P. Goodyke ◽  
Patricia E. Hershberger ◽  
Ulf G. Bronas ◽  
Susan L. Dunn

The purpose of this integrative review is to explore and synthesize literature about the relationship between perceived social support and cardiac vagal modulation, measured by heart rate variability (HRV), during phases of an acute stress response to assess this potential relationship underlying the stress-buffering effects of perceived social support. A systematic search of seven databases was conducted, including MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Embase, ProQuest, medRxiv, and clinicaltrials.gov. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were systematically synthesized. A quality appraisal was completed for each included study. Majority of studies focused on time and frequency domain measures of HRV thought to reflect parasympathetic modulation of heart rate and identified them as positively associated with perceived social support during rest, stress induction, and recovery from an acute stressor. Results highlight the importance for nurses and other health care professionals to assess patients’ perceived social support, as increased perceived social support may contribute to an adaptive stress response.


2021 ◽  
pp. 097215092110103
Author(s):  
Yadvinder Parmar ◽  
Bikram Jit Singh Mann

This article aims to empirically examine the mediating impact of consumer’s parasocial interaction on the relationship between celebrity images on the consumer’s purchase intentions. It aims to empirically investigate the moderating role of celebrity liking in the formation of consumer’s parasocial interaction. Four different versions of self-administered questionnaire using different celebrities as a stimulus were developed. Data were collected from 484 respondents. Quota cum judgemental sampling method was used for the study. The findings show that parasocial interaction mediates the relationship between celebrity images and purchase intentions. It also reveals positive moderating effect of celebrity liking. It has significant implications for marketers and academicians.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrik Söderberg ◽  
Kaj Bjorkqvist ◽  
Karin Österman

Purpose – Recent studies indicate that exposure to physical punishment is associated with both aggressive behavior and peer victimization at school. The purpose of this paper is to explore the bidirectional relationship between aggressive behavior and peer victimization as outcomes of physical punishment, as well as the role of depressive symptoms. Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 2,424 Finnish upper primary school pupils (1,282 girls, 1,148 boys, mean age=14.2, SD=1.0) completed an online survey during class. Two conditional process models were applied using a macro for SPSS developed by Hayes (2012). Findings – Exposure to physical punishment was found to be associated with both aggressive behavior and peer victimization at school. The effect on victimization was partially mediated by aggressive behavior and depressive symptoms, whereas the effect on aggressive behavior was partially mediated by peer victimization experiences but not by depressive symptoms. The relationship between physical punishment and peer victimization was somewhat stronger for girls than for boys, but this effect was not accounted for by gender differences in depressive symptoms or aggressive behavior. Originality/value – Few studies to date have addressed the connection between aggressive behavior and peer victimization as outcomes of physical punishment. In addition, the study expands on the concept of “victim personality” by examining the mediating role of depressive symptoms. Methodologically, the study is an example of how the statistical software SPSS can be used for multiple mediation and conditional process analysis as an alternative to SEM analyses.


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