The impact of responsive social support provision on stress, the self and relationship outcomes

It is widely assumed that receiving social support facilitates coping, promotes emotional well-being and enhances relationship quality. However, the few experimental studies that have examined support and these outcomes have failed to find a clear benefit of received support in the context of specific stressors. Using an attachment theoretical perspective, the goal of this investigation was to demonstrate the benefits of receiving responsive support on stress appraisals, emotional well-being, and relationship experiences in romantic couples and acquaintances. A secondary goal was to examine how differences in attachment style moderate these effects. In two studies, I created a stressful task for one member of each couple using virtual reality technology. I then manipulated the non-verbal behavior of participants' romantic partners (Study 1, Study 2) or an acquaintance (Study 2). In Study 1 ( N = 131), there were three conditions: (a) attentive-support, (b) inattentive-support, and (c) no-support (control). Results revealed that individuals in the attentive-support condition experienced the task as less stressful than those in the no-support condition. In addition, those in the attentive-support condition reported feeling more emotionally secure during their task and rated their partner as being more interpersonally responsive. Finally, participants in the inattentive-support condition spent more time looking at their partner during their cliff-walking task and maintained greater physical distance from their partner on a subsequent, unrelated task. Study 2 (N = 141) was a 2 (partner vs. stranger) x 3 (support condition) factorial design. Results revealed that participants felt more emotionally secure with an attentive support-provider compared to inattentive one and with a partner compared to a stranger. Within the partner support-provider condition, participants decreased their general perception of partner responsiveness and increased their perception of partner mistrust in the inattentive-support condition. Within the stranger support-provider condition, participants liked the stranger in the attentive-support condition more than the no-support condition. Finally, Study 2 replicated the interpersonal distancing finding. However, relatively few effects of attachment style differences were found across studies. Implications of these findings for understanding the effects of support on health and well-being, and on the development (or deterioration) of closeness in new and ongoing relationships are discussed.