ICPR Abstracts: Session 27

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Session 27: Papers

The Negative Side of Social Support

27.1
Why is the Receipt of Social Support Associated with 
Increased Psychological Distress? 
A Test of Three Hypotheses

Martin Dunbar, Graeme Ford, and Kate Hunt
Medical Research Council, Scotland

Although perceptions of social support are linked to lower 
levels of psychological distress, the receipt of supportive 
behaviours is associated consistently with increased 
distress (Barrera, 1986). This paper examines three 
hypotheses that attempt to explain why this relationship 
exists. Using data from a sample of 240 individuals (half 
of whom were known to have some form of disability) we 
found a pattern of correlation coefficients that supported 
each of the three hypotheses. Regression analyses on the 
whole sample also suggested that all three processes were 
involved. However, separate analyses of the "disabled" 
sub-sample suggested that support receipt might threaten 
the equitable balance of relationships and the resulting 
inequity might be responsible for the support/distress 
association. We examine the implications of these findings 
for community interventions based around the provision of 
social support. 

27.2
The Negative Evolution of Dependence: 
A Relativistic Approach

Rita D'Amico
Istituto di Psicologia CNR

The study explored the relative impact of culture on 
attitudes and perceptions of dependence.  Cultures are not 
homogenous, but they vary according to societal 
expectations regarding when and for whom dependence is 
more appropriate.  Variations were expected to be the 
result of differences in cohort, gender, type of dependence 
and type of relationships where dependence occurs.  Three 
main issues were addressed: desirability of dependence, 
degree of dependence perceived and globality of the 
evaluations according to the social dimensions considered.

27.3
Caregiver Burnout Among the 
Partners of Cancer Patients

Jan F. Ybema, Roeline G. Kuijer, Bram P. Buunk,
Majella de Jong and Robbert Sanderman
University of Groningen

In a cross-sectional study among 86 partners of cancer 
patients, caregiver burnout was assessed. Burnout was 
unrelated to several indicators of the physical condition of 
the caregivers' ill partners.  However, as either the 
caregivers or their ill spouses were lower in mastery, and 
higher in depression, caregivers were more likely to 
experience burnout. Moreover, feelings of inequity and 
relationship quality were related to depersonalization of 
the ill spouse. The relationships of spousal caregivers high 
in burnout with their ill spouses were characterized by 
negative interactions and destructive communication 
patterns. 

27.4
Felt Obligation Towards Parents in 
Early and Middle Adulthood

Catherine H. Stein
Bowling Green State University

Findings of research examining the usefulness of felt
obligation in describing adults' relationship with their 
parents in early and middle adulthood are presented. 
Using a sample of 310 college age adults and a separate 
intergenerational sample of 230 college age adults and 
their middle age married parents, the study replicated 
gender differences in felt obligation towards parents for 
both young and middle age adults.  Young adults also 
expressed significantly higher levels of felt obligation 
towards their parents than did middle age respondents 
towards their parents. Felt obligation added to our 
understanding of respondents' reports of help they provide 
parents beyond that of respondent gender, self-reports of 
familial responsibility and parental affection for both 
young and middle age adult samples. The implications of 
present findings for describing adult family relationships 
are discussed.

27.5
Implications of Stressor Visibility and Perceived 
Stigma for Social Support Processes

Kristin D. Mickelson
University of Michigan

Studies have suggested that stressor visibility can be either 
beneficial or harmful to social support.  An interaction 
between stressor visibility and perceived stigma was 
hypothesized: stressor visibility would be related to 
increased social support only if an individual did not 
perceive a stigma to be associated with the stressor.  One 
hundred and nine parents of special needs children were 
interviewed about their stigma perceptions, their child's 
visibility, and social support from spouse, parents, and 
friends. The hypothesized interaction was not supported.  
However, perceived stigma was related to less perceived 
support availability and willingness to seek support, but to 
more support-seeking.