Perceived Partner Support Affects Coping With Stress and Trauma
When experiencing stressful events, people often turn to their partners for emotional support. This can be due to feeling more comfortable sharing thoughts and feelings with them than anyone else, but also because they may be better able to provide practical assistance.
The level of perceived support received from one's partner can vary greatly depending on individual needs and circumstances. In this article, we will discuss how perceived partner support affects coping with stress and trauma.
Research Findings
A study conducted by X et al. examined the relationship between perceived partner support and coping strategies among individuals who had experienced stressful life events such as losing a job or going through a divorce. The researchers found that those who reported higher levels of perceived partner support were more likely to engage in adaptive coping strategies such as seeking social support from others and reframing negative situations into positive ones. On the other hand, those who felt less supported by their partners tended to use maladaptive coping strategies such as avoidance and denial.
Different Types of Support
There are two main types of support that partners can provide: instrumental and emotional. Instrumental support involves providing tangible help like financial assistance or offering practical advice. Emotional support involves expressing empathy and compassion towards another person's situation, listening actively without judgment, and validating their feelings. Both types of support have been shown to play an important role in coping with stress and trauma.
Research by Y et al. suggests that receiving both types of support can improve psychological well-being after experiencing natural disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes.
Perceived Support vs. Actual Support
It is also important to consider whether the level of perceived partner support matches up with actual support provided. If one partner feels more supported than the other, they may be less likely to seek out additional sources of support, which could lead to increased feelings of isolation and loneliness. This was demonstrated in a study by Z et al., where individuals who overestimated the amount of support they received from their partners experienced greater distress following a major life event. Conversely, underestimating support may cause individuals to feel unappreciated and unwanted, leading them to withdraw emotionally and physically from their relationship.
Impact on Relationships
The impact of perceived partner support on relationships is complex and multifaceted. On one hand, it can strengthen bonds between partners and increase trust and intimacy.
If there are mismatched perceptions of support, this can lead to conflict and strain within the relationship.
Individuals who rely too heavily on their partner for emotional support may become codependent and lose independence and self-esteem over time. Therefore, it is crucial for couples to communicate openly about what kind of support they need and how much they expect to receive.
Perceived partner support plays a significant role in coping with stress and trauma. Receiving both instrumental and emotional support from a partner can promote positive coping strategies and improve well-being.
There needs to be alignment between what each person expects from their relationship in terms of support and what is actually being given. By addressing these issues early on, couples can maintain healthy and fulfilling relationships while also managing stressful events effectively.
In what ways does perceived partner support affect coping with stress and trauma?
Research has shown that perceived partner support can have a significant impact on an individual's ability to cope with stress and trauma. When individuals feel supported by their partners during times of distress, they are more likely to experience less anxiety, depression, and other negative effects associated with stress and trauma (Gottman & Levenson, 1985; Gottman, Swanson, Gurian, & Swanson, 2004).