Journal
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
Volume 74, Issue 7, Pages 949-957Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.11.023
Keywords
Social support; Psychological mechanisms; Physiology; Review
Funding
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [R01 HL085106]
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Contemporary models postulate the importance of psychological mechanisms linking perceived and received social support to physical health outcomes. In this review, we examine studies that directly tested the potential psychological mechanisms responsible for links between social support and health-relevant physiological processes (1980s-2010). Inconsistent with existing theoretical models, no evidence was found that psychological mechanisms such as depression, perceived stress, and other affective processes are directly responsible for links between support and health. We discuss the importance of considering statistical/design issues, emerging conceptual perspectives, and limitations of our existing models for future research aimed at elucidating the psychological mechanisms responsible for links between social support and physical health outcomes. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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