What is a social support system, and why is it crucial for healthy relationships and psychological well-being? Having a network of family and friends to turn to in difficult times is the essence of social support.
These connections are essential to your ability to function in your day-to-day life, whether you are experiencing a personal crisis and want immediate support or want to spend time with people who care about you.
Social support, however, does not work in a one-way fashion. You not only rely on others, but you also give support to numerous individuals in your life.
What Makes a Strong Social Support System Important
It’s common knowledge among psychologists and other mental health specialists that having a robust social support system is crucial. Experts typically urge individuals to turn to their friends and family for support while attempting to accomplish their objectives or handle a crisis.
The association between social connections and various elements of health and wellness has also been shown through research.
It has been demonstrated that lack of social support alters brain function, raises the risk of the following conditions, and is associated with sadness and loneliness:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Alcohol use
- Suicide
- Depression
In a seven-year study of middle-aged males, individuals with substantial emotional and social support were less likely to pass away than those without such connections.
What elements of our social settings are thus so crucial to our health? And in what ways do the social contexts in which we live affect our general well-being? Social support and social integration are the two fundamental facets of our social environments that influence our health.
Social Support
Social support is the term for the psychological and material resources offered by a social network to assist people in managing their stress. Such social support might take many different forms, including:
- Giving financial aid when someone is in need or assisting a sick individual with numerous everyday responsibilities
- Guiding a buddy who is experiencing a challenging circumstance
- Having compassion, sensitivity, and care for family members that are in need
Integration Into Society
Social integration is the engagement in various social connections, from friendships to love unions.
This integration encompasses feelings, closeness, and a sense of belonging to several social groupings, such as:
- Family
- Religious Community
- Partnership
- Social interaction
According to experts, participating in these social networks offers protection from unhealthy habits and adverse health effects.
Various Forms of Social Support Systems
Varied types of supportive social networks might exist and have different functions in your life.
Instrumental Support
In other circumstances, the people in your social network may offer crucial support. They tend to your physical requirements and lend a helping hand when required. 6 This can entail providing you with a hot meal when you’re ill or a ride when your car is being repaired. Such support is crucial when people have urgent needs that must be met.
Emotional Support
The individuals in your life might occasionally provide you with emotional support. They support you when necessary and offer a sympathetic ear when things don’t go your way. When people are stressed or feel lonely, this kind of support may be very beneficial.
Informational Support
Individuals may also offer what is referred to as informative support. This may entail giving direction, counsel, knowledge, and mentoring. This kind of support may be crucial when making decisions or significant changes in one’s life.
People in your social networks may play diverse roles, as you might expect. While a parent might offer all three categories, a teacher might offer informational support. You are more likely to get the kind of support you need when you need it by having a robust social support network.
Benefits of Social Support for Health
Now that we know that our social support systems include various social support and social group integration, it is essential to examine the precise ways these social ties affect physical and mental health.
Improves Motivation
People’s social connections can also assist them in maintaining motivation while they work toward their objectives. For instance, while attempting to reduce weight or stop smoking, many people discover that connecting with others actively working toward those same objectives is beneficial.
Better Stress Management
People who need social support can better manage their stress. Stress has been demonstrated to have detrimental effects on health, including lowered immunity and a higher risk of heart disease.
Strong social support during difficult times has been proven in research to help mitigate the effects of trauma-induced diseases, such as PTSD.
Healthy Choices and Behavior
Social group membership has a normative effect on behaviors, frequently affecting whether people exercise, eat a healthy diet, smoke, drink, or use illicit substances.
Social groupings can occasionally negatively impact when peer pressure and influence result in poor or risky health decisions. However, peer pressure and support from the group can also motivate people to adopt constructive habits.