Cognitive Causes and Consequences of Perceived Social Support

Abstract

People’s perceptions of the social support they have available can have an important impact on their social adjustment and their ability to cope with stress. Moreover, this influence appears independent of the social support that actually exists. Indeed, there is often little relation between perceived and actual support availability. Individuals’ general perceptions of the support they receive are only weakly correlated with their ratings of the supportiveness conveyed in specific events that have occurred (Dunkel-Schetter & Bennett, 1990; Lakey & Cassady, 1990; Sarason, Shearin, Pierce, & Sarason, 1987). Moreover, these perceptions are often better predictors of coping effectiveness than are either persons’ own or others’ ratings of the support that has actually been provided them in specific experiences they have had (Antonucci & Israel, 1986; Sandler & Barrera, 1984; Wethington & Kessler, 1986). Thus, providing persons with a supportive social environment is insufficient to ensure their ability to cope with stress and to acquire a sense of well-being. To attain these objectives, one must also understand the factors that influence people’s perceptions of social support availability. This understanding requires an identification of not only the cognitive bases of perceived social support but also the processes that give rise to it.