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Assessing Perceived Social Support

The Importance of Context

  • Chapter
Sourcebook of Social Support and Personality

Part of the book series: The Springer Series in Social/Clinical Psychology ((SSSC))

Abstract

In this chapter, we discuss assessment of perceived social support with respect to three inseparable issues: defining perceived support, selecting particular approaches to assess it, and systematically organizing hypotheses regarding its origins, nature, and effects. Based on a brief history of social support research, we explain our focus on perceived social support. We observe that our understanding of perceived support is still hampered by vague definitions and urge that, because of its importance for theory and intervention, perceived support research must develop beyond tests of its direct, moderating, and mediating effects in different populations. Toward that end, we make three recommendations. First, the perceived support construct should be clarified through hypothesis testing in the context of contemporary psychological paradigms. Cognitive and attachment-theory approaches appear particularly promising in this regard. Second, investigators who construct and use perceived support assessments should be aware of the implicit assumptions and consequences associated with different assessment approaches. Finally, we suggest a conceptual framework to articulate hypotheses regarding perceived support’s origins, nature, and effects. The framework consists of culture, development, personality, social settings, and activities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, New York, 10458, USA

    Mary E. Procidano & Walanda Walker Smith

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  1. Mary E. Procidano
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  2. Walanda Walker Smith
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, 13323, USA

    Gregory R. Pierce

  2. Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, 48202, USA

    Brian Lakey

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

    Irwin G. Sarason  & Barbara R. Sarason  & 

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Procidano, M.E., Smith, W.W. (1997). Assessing Perceived Social Support. In: Pierce, G.R., Lakey, B., Sarason, I.G., Sarason, B.R. (eds) Sourcebook of Social Support and Personality. The Springer Series in Social/Clinical Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1843-7_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1843-7_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1845-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1843-7

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