Statistics suggest that too many of us are under too muchstress.
Social supportis critical for mental well-being.
It turns out social support doesn’t just make us happy; it also helps minimize theeffects of stress.
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At a Glance
Having social support in your life can help create a buffer against stress.
What Is Social Support?
These are the people we talk to when we are having problems.
The ones we turn to when we need help with a task.
The people willing to lend their resources, time, effort, or information when we need help.
Types of Social Support
Not alltypes of social supportare the same.
The key in you need often depends on thekind of stress you are dealing with.
Here are some of the main types you’ll often need in your life.
In other words, emotional support shows us that there are people who care.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as giving someone a shoulder to cry on.
Tangible Social Support
Tangible social support includes sharing resources, either material or financial.
Belonging Social Support
Belongingsocial support involves providing social leisure and belonging.
There are actually many reasons.
It Buffers Against Stress
Social support is also believed to help create a buffer against stress.
Having supportive connections is linked to lower levels of depression and workplaceburnout.
It’s also positively linked to better physical and mental health.
In one study, high social support levels were associated with reduced blood pressure.
Unfortunately, statistics suggest that there are more lonely people than ever before.
It’s such a growing health concern that the U.S. One 2021 survey found that 36% of all adults and 61% of young adults experienced serious loneliness.
That’s why it’s important to remember that you need a support system.
Even if you tend to be anintrovertwho preferssolitude, you still need connections and support.
The key is to forge high-quality, nurturing connections.
Your social support internet can be small but mighty.
Remember, social support can come from many places.
Look up old friends or classmates on social media and reach out.
See if they’d like to get together or chat on the phone.
Make New Connections
Meeting new people can seem intimidating, but it gets easier with practice!
Or you might take a class offered by your local community college.
It can help to widen your search to consider options you might not have thought of in the past.
That means sharing things about yourself and listening to what they have to say.
Creating strong relationships in your life is vital for you and for those you love.
American Psychological Association.Stress in America 2022.
2022;12(3):e054812.
doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054812
American Medical Association.What doctors with patients knew about loneliness and health.
Surgeon General.Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, 2023.
Harvard Graduate School of Education.Loneliness in America.
Kreiner H, Levi-Belz Y.Self-disclosure here and now: combining retrospective perceived assessment with dynamic behavioral measures.Front Psychol.
