Social support is often recognized as a key component of strong relationships and strong psychological health, but what exactly does that mean? Fundamentally, social support includes: It includes having a network of family and friends that you can rely on in times of need.
How these relationships work in your daily life, whether you’re facing a personal crisis and need immediate help, or simply want to spend time with people who care about you. plays an important role in
It is social support that lifts people up during times of stress and often gives them the strength to continue and even grow.
But social support is certainly not a one-way street. Not only are you dependent on others, but you also have a supporting role for many people in your life.
Why strong social support is so important
Psychologists and other mental health professionals often talk about the importance of having a strong social support network. When trying to achieve a goal or cope with a crisis, professionals often ask people to turn to friends and family for support.
Research has also demonstrated a link between social relationships and various aspects of health. Inadequate social support is associated with depression and loneliness, and has been shown to alter brain function and increase the risk of:
- alcohol use
- cardiovascular disease
- depression
- suicide
In one seven-year study of middle-aged men, those with strong social and emotional support were less likely to die than those without such relationships.
Social support and integration
So which aspects of our social environment are so important to our health? And how exactly does our social environment affect our overall well-being? Our social world has two important aspects that contribute to health. It’s social support and social integration.
social support
Social support refers to the psychological and material resources provided by social networks to help individuals cope with stress. Such social support takes many forms and may include:
- Help with various daily tasks when you are sick or provide financial assistance when you are in need
- Give advice when a friend is facing a difficult situation
- Offering compassion, empathy, and care to loved ones in need
social integration
Social integration refers to actually participating in a variety of social relationships, from romantic partnerships to friendships. This integration includes emotions, intimacy, and a sense of belonging to different social groups. This includes being part of the following groups:
Experts suggest that being integrated into such social relationships can have protective effects against maladaptive behaviors and negative health outcomes.
Types of social support
Supportive social networks come in many forms and play different roles in our lives. There are three main types of social support: emotional support, instrumental support, and informational support.
emotional support
People around you can provide emotional support. They support you when you need them and have a shoulder to cry on when things don’t go well. This kind of support is especially important when you’re feeling stressed or alone.
instrument support
People within your social network may also be able to provide helpful support. They take care of your physical needs and offer a helping hand when you need it.This might include bringing them a hot meal when they’re sick or giving them a ride in their car when it’s at the store. Such support is important when people have immediate needs that need to be addressed.
information support
You can also provide what is called informational support. This may include providing guidance, advice, information and guidance. This type of support can be important when making decisions or major changes in your life.
By receiving this form of support, people may feel less anxious and stressed about the problem they are trying to solve, thanks to the advice of a trusted friend, mentor, or loved one.
As you can imagine, people within a social network can take on different roles. Teachers may provide informational support, and parents may provide all three types of her. Having a strong social support network increases your chances of getting the support you need when you really need it.
Examples of social support
Social support can come in many forms and from many different people in your life. Colleagues may provide support at work, and friends and family may provide emotional or practical support in other areas of life.
Examples of social support include:
- Listen to your friends talk about stressful situations
- Validating other members of the support group when they talk about their feelings
- Cook a meal for a neighbor who is sick
- praise an employee for a good job
- Provide constructive feedback that helps someone improve their work
- People suffering from depression help with housework
Health benefits of social support
Now that we understand that our social support system includes different types of social support and integration into different social groups, we understand that these social relationships can improve both physical and mental health. Let’s take a closer look at exactly how it affects you.
healthy choices and behaviors
Participation in social groups has a normative influence on behavior, often influencing whether people eat healthy, exercise, smoke, drink alcohol, or use illicit drugs.
Clearly, social groups can have a negative impact in this regard, when peer pressure and influence lead to poor or risky health choices. However, group pressure and support can also lead people to adopt healthy behaviors.
If you’ve ever tried to quit a bad habit like smoking, you probably understand how important social support is. Success can be even more difficult if your social connections don’t support you. You may be even more likely to achieve your goals if your friends and family provide support and encouragement.
deal with stress
Social support also helps people cope with stress. Stress has been shown to have significant health effects, from weakening your immune system to increasing your risk of heart disease.
Surrounding yourself with caring and supportive people helps people see themselves as better able to cope with the stresses life brings.
Research also shows that having strong social support during a crisis can help reduce the effects of trauma-induced disorders, including PTSD.
improve motivation
Social relationships also help people stay motivated when trying to achieve their goals. For example, people who are trying to lose weight or quit smoking often find it helpful to connect with people who are actively trying to achieve the same goals.
Talking to people who are going through the same experience can often be a source of support, empathy, and motivation.
A word from Berrywell
Sometimes it’s important to evaluate your relationships.
- Do you have enough social support?
- Would you benefit from deepening your current relationship?
- Can you take advantage of new social connections and social gatherings?
You may decide to be more proactive in giving and receiving emotional support. It can significantly improve your quality of life.
If you’re having trouble making or keeping friends, you may want to talk to a therapist. A mental health professional may be able to help you manage your relationships in a healthy way so that you have the social support you need to do your best.