The interrelations among social support, negative interaction, and perception of acceptance: Preliminary examination of the mediation hypothesis based on sociometer theory

Abstract

Based on sociometer theory, a model depicting the effect of received social support (RSS), on psychological well-being as mediated by perceived acceptance by others (PA) was proposed and tested using cross-sectional data. The element of negative interaction (NI) was also included in this model. In study 1, the effects of RSS and NI from one's general interpersonal network on well-being were both mediated by PA. In study 2, the effects of RSS and NI from a particular person on the receiver's well-being were mediated by the PA from that person, controlling for the receiver's perception about the relationship with the person. However, when trait self-esteem was controlled for in both Studies 1 and 2, the effect of PA on well-being disappeared, while the effects of SS and NI on PA remained significant. These results indicate that the perception of how much social support is received and how much negative interaction is experienced between others is related to how well they are accepted by others, but the relationship between acceptance and well-being is implicated by the level of self-esteem of the receiver.View full abstract