Social Relationships and Their Impact on Health

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary and concepts related to social relationships, their impact on health, and the types of social support.

What is social support?

The feeling of being loved, esteemed, valued, and part of a network of communication and mutual obligation.

Types of social support.

Three major categories: emotional, instrumental, and informational support.

Emotional support.

Reassurance, warmth, feeling loved and cared for.

Informational support.

Involves knowledge about a stressor; helps deal with it and pick coping strategies.

Instrumental support.

Providing tangible assistance or help with problems.

Impact of low social support.

Associated with trouble sleeping, higher blood pressure, more disease, early mortality, and higher suicide rates.

Physiological effects of social support.

High social support reduces physical response to stress.

Social integration.

Active participation in social networks and community groups.

What are the health outcomes associated with social relationships?

Decreased risk of mortality, lower risk of colds, better pregnancy outcomes, lower heart attack susceptibility, slower cognitive decline.

Negative relationships and health.

Behaviors perceived as aversive or unwanted can negatively affect health and physiology.

Invisible support.

Support that is not recognized by the recipient, which may lead to better outcomes.

Stress-buffering model.

The model suggesting that social support resources can help mitigate the impact of stress on health.

Visible support.

Support that recipients are aware of and can recognize.

Oxytocin’s role in social relationships.

A hormone that increases during positive relationship activities and may buffer the stress response.

Possible detrimental effects of social support.

Over-involvement can lead to negative outcomes for individuals facing significant life challenges.

Hawkley & Cacioppo (2010) findings.

Perceptions of social isolation are linked to worse physical and mental health.