OPPORTUNITIES
What is Social Support?
Social support can take on many forms, such as belonging to a network of communication with a trusted group or valued individual that provides physical and emotional comfort. Individuals who are supported enhance the sense of belonging, security, and community increasing self-esteem. Those who have developed positive social support networks are proven to be less vulnerable to poor health behaviors and outcomes as there is a strong connection between social support and measures of well-being.
Why is it Important?
Strong social support networks can reduce the psychological or physiological consequences of stress when they feel like they have support from others. Everybody experiences stress whether a short-term occurrence or consistently over a long period of time which can increase physical and mental health risks leading to serious illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Getting Social Support...
Social connections can be developed in a variety of ways to manage stress effectively and improve your mental, emotional, and physical health. Taking the initiative to develop lasting relationships that promote feelings of acceptance and peace with others can occur simply by finding opportunities to participate in interests such as taking a fitness class, joining a sports team, or volunteering. Additionally, taking a coffee break with a friend, making a phone call to a loved one, or even a quick chat with a coworker can provide comfort, especially in times of distress.
Lack of Social Support...
Many of the individuals in one's life, such as teachers, coworkers, parents, and neighbors can provide social support to improve the ability to cope with life stressors. However, lack of social support can enhance social isolation associated with health problems. Loneliness resulting from the withdrawal of social support situations can increase stress leading to poor behavior choices, such as physical inactivity, smoking, and excessive drinking negatively impact health outcomes. Loneliness has also been associated with higher risk of developing anxiety and depression which are two of the most common symptoms linked to suicide.
.
References
American Psychological Association. (2018). Manage stress: Strengthen your support network. http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/emotional-support.aspx.
Cherry, K. (2020). How social support contributes to psychological health. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/social-support-for-psychological-health-4119970
Ozbay, F., Johnson, D. C., Dimoulas, E., Morgan, C. A., Charney, D., & Southwick, S. (2007). Social support and resilience to stress: from neurobiology to clinical practice. Psychiatry, 4(5), 35–40. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921311/