Stress is an unavoidable part of life that can take a toll on both physical and mental health. It is a significant predictor of poor psychological wellbeing, leading to depression, anxiety disorders, and even suicide. Stress also affects interpersonal relationships, making people less satisfied with their partnerships and more likely to experience conflict. One way to combat stress is through social support, which refers to the emotional, instrumental, and informational resources provided by others during challenging times. Social support has been found to buffer the negative effects of stress on mental health and relationship satisfaction, but it may be particularly beneficial for those who are experiencing concealment (i.e., hiding their true thoughts and feelings from loved ones) and relational conflict. Concealment and conflict have both been linked to worse outcomes than stress alone, and the combination of all three factors seems especially harmful. The present study sought to examine whether social support moderates these associations.
Participants were 100 couples recruited online who had been together for at least one year. They completed questionnaires assessing perceived stress, relational satisfaction, concealment, and conflict in their relationships. Participants also reported on the extent of social support they received from family members, friends, romantic partners, and other sources. Results indicated that high levels of social support were associated with better psychological wellbeing, regardless of perceived stress or concealment.
Social support only mitigated the negative impact of stress when participants felt comfortable sharing their concerns with their partner, suggesting that receiving support requires trust and open communication. Interestingly, social support was not protective against conflict-related distress, potentially because some conflicts cannot be resolved without third-party intervention.
Social support can help people cope with stress, even if they feel unable to express themselves fully to their partner. This finding has implications for clinical practice, as therapists should encourage clients to seek social support from trusted individuals outside of their primary relationships. Future research should investigate how best to foster social support among stressed individuals and those experiencing concealment and relational conflict.
How does social support moderate the impact of stress, concealment, and relational conflict on mental health and relational satisfaction?
Stress is a common psychological condition that can negatively affect an individual's physical and mental well-being. Social support has been shown to buffer against the negative effects of stress on an individual's mental health. In a study conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School, individuals with strong social support were found to be less likely to experience anxiety and depression symptoms compared to those without such support (Kim et al. , 2016).