Many of us know how nothing is 100% in mental health. One event or pattern of behavior does not mean one outcome will occur. For example PTSD is more often not guaranteed after a traumatic event. And no treatment works all the time for everyone. But the theory of social support and its benefits is one finding that appears to almost always predict benefits.
Yup, the benefits of positive social support is one of the most stable findings in all mental health research. These benefits include adjustment to stressful events, better mental health over time in general, and better physical health!
Having positive social support appears to work by bringing about greater positive emotions, increasing our self-efficacy, and decreasing physiological arousal associated with negative emotions. Loneliness and social isolation appear to have great negative effects on mood and physical health.
Newer evidence shows that we even tend to perceive less stress when we have positive social support. That decreased perception in turn relates to fewer mental health difficulties.
These findings suggest putting therapist resources toward helping clients find more ways to build social support networks. We can also help them more effectively access support they currently have. For some clients, it may even be the primary approach to skill building in therapy.
But research evidence for the theory of social support does not mean that clients should seek social connections wherever possible. Research also finds that the type of support matters greatly. Negative or critical/harsh support can have negative effects on mental health and physical health, including after traumatic events.
Therefore, work with clients should focus on how to find social support and how to identify what good support is, while engaging less with negative sources of support. There are good therapist resources and training on how to help people engage effectively with their social context
The importance of social support may seem obvious. But just how helpful positive (versus negative) support is should not be underestimated. We cannot snap our fingers and help clients get better support. But we can help them learn how to seek it more effectively for themselves!
