coping and social support

coping

cognitive, emotional, or behavioral efforts to manage the demands of a stressor

not always successful

cognitive behavioral stress management interventions

help people change their stress appraisals

• recognize if it’s threatening, and that they know how to deal with it

functions of coping

• master or eliminate distress inducing problem

• alter appraisals of distress inducing situation

• reduce psychological and physiological distress reactions

• return to normal/better functioning

emotion focused coping

efforts to reduce or manage the distress from the stressor

problem focused coping

efforts to solve or alter the stressor

approach coping

aka active coping

intentional efforts to do something abt the stressor or its emotional consequences

avoidant coping

avoiding or withdrawing from the stressor or from thoughts and emotions about it

approach x emotion focused

you confront emotions about the stressor - process and express

approach x problem focused

confronting stressor itself to try and solve it

avoidant x emotion focused

denying or avoiding emotions abt stressors

avoidant x problem focused

denying or avoiding trying to solve the stressor

if you have control over a situation

use problem/approach coping

if you dont have control over a situation

emotion/avoidant coping

short term stressor use…

avoidant over approach

long term stressor use…

approach over avoidant

emotional approach associated with

• improved:

  • physical health and physiological outcomes

• worse mental/emotional health

humor as coping

• people coped better with their own life stressors

• reduced physical and psychological stress symptoms

social support

interpersonal interactions involving

• emotional support (showing concern)

• belonging support (having ppl to be with)

• tangible support (providing aid)

• informational support (giving good advice)

emotional support

i know someone who i see/talk to who could comfort me

belonging support

finding someone to be with

tangible support

someone who can help out in moments of need

informational support

someone who you can see or talk to for help

perceived support

amount of support that you believe exists for you in your social network

received support

amount of support that you actually experienceso

social support and health — research

measured by:

• social ties (number of friends/family you have)

• social isolation (lack of support)

• loneliness (subjective experience of being socially disconnected)

research is usually correlational

social ties and mortality

measured number of social ties, recorded when/if they died

results: more ties, longer you live + vise versa

loneliness and mortality

looked at heart disease pts

measured: if people were alone and wished to be with others —> those who answered yes were considered lonely

found: lonely women had triple the risk of mortality compared to not lonely women

• lonely men had double the risk

social isolation and mortality

defined as socially isolated if:

• not married, living alone, low contact with kids/friends

• no participation in groups in last 3 months

tracked for 10 years to see if they died

lower survival rate if there was social isolation

social support - cohen

measured diversity of social networks, infected subjects with cold virus

subjects with more diverse social networks got fewest colds (lower if they also had few stressful life events)

social support and diabetes care

glucose monitored continuously, asked about partner support throughout day

results: in hours after partner involvement

• lower glucose levels and levels were more likely to be within healthy range