Perceived social support refers to an individual's belief that they have people around them who are available, willing, and able to provide assistance when needed. This type of support can come from family members, friends, romantic partners, co-workers, teachers, religious leaders, or other community members. It is important because it influences how individuals cope with various life challenges, including discrimination and relational stress. Discrimination refers to unfair treatment based on one's race, gender, age, ability status, ethnicity, religion, or any other characteristic deemed different from others. Relational stress refers to conflicts between individuals in interpersonal interactions.
How does perceived social support influence coping with discrimination?
One way perceived social support affects coping with discrimination is through buffering. Buffering occurs when perceived social support reduces the impact of negative experiences on mental health outcomes.
If someone experiences discrimination due to their race or gender, they may feel isolated and alone. Perceiving social support can reduce this isolation and help them feel more connected to others.
Perceived social support can increase self-esteem and resilience, which can make discrimination less likely to affect mental health negatively.
There may be limits to how much perceived social support can buffer against discrimination. Some research suggests that individuals with high levels of perceived social support may still experience negative mental health outcomes after experiencing discrimination.
How does perceived social support influence coping with relational stress?
Perceived social support also influences coping with relational stress by promoting adaptive strategies for managing conflict.
If two people are having a disagreement, they may try to resolve it by talking about their feelings and listening to each other's perspectives. This process requires empathy, which can be facilitated by perceived social support. If individuals have a strong sense of connection with others who care about them, they may be more likely to engage in constructive communication during times of conflict. On the other hand, low perceived social support can lead to avoidant coping strategies like ignoring problems or withdrawing from relationships. These strategies can lead to longer-term relationship issues and increased conflict.
Perceived social support is an important factor in how individuals cope with both discrimination and relational stress. It can provide buffering effects when dealing with discrimination and promote adaptive strategies during conflicts.
Perceived social support cannot completely eliminate these challenges on its own. Future research should explore how various forms of perceived social support (e.g., family vs. friends) affect coping strategies differently.
How does perceived social support influence coping with discrimination and relational stress?
Perceived social support plays an important role in determining how individuals cope with discrimination and relational stress. When people feel supported by their social network, they are more likely to be resilient and better able to handle stressful situations that arise from discrimination. Social support can also provide a sense of belongingness, which is crucial for maintaining positive mental health.