What Role Does Social Support Play in Coping Mechanisms During Early Adulthood? I. Topic Background Social support refers to the informative, instrumental or emotional care offered to an individual by close family members, relatives or friends to boost coping mechanisms during early adulthood such as self-esteem and measures of stress management. Social support is imperative in determining the well-being of all people for it shapes the physical health and the mental health of each (Santrock 8). Various studies demonstrate that social support plays a crucial role in coping mechanisms during early childhood. Social support is a fundamental aspect of maintaining a healthy psychological status. On the other hand, a good social support has many …show more content…
The process of human development is influenced by both social and environmental factors. The role played by parents and the interpersonal relations during infantry, and early childhood determines the nature of the individual during the early adulthood stage. Individuals during the early adulthood stage are on the verge of being independent and financially stable. They tend to disentangle from the parental care and try to fend for themselves without the support of others. Most of the individuals happen to build stable romantic relationships that could lead to later …show more content…
An individual becomes comfortable in the society when the essential social support is offered to him or her. Most of the mental illnesses during early adulthood in the contemporary society are closely related to the inadequate social support. A good social support is useful in coping mechanisms for it helps prevent mental disorders and reduce the mortality rate. Happy members of the society relate well with other people while those with bad relations are often avoided and end up spending miserable, lonely lives. An individual who does not fit in society is presumed to be an outcast who is unwelcome to live with others. Finally, the vital role played by social support in coping mechanisms for the early adulthood stage should be upheld in molding happy and peaceful members of the
Social support is one of the aspects of the book and what it is, is contact
Schaffer, M.A. & Lia-Hoagberg, B. (1997). Effects of social support on prenatal care and health
As individuals we also continue to develop physically, even though some of our physical changes may eventually progress in a negative way. Some physical changes may take place during adulthood, and in early adulthood an individual may continue to add height and weight, and some hormonal changes may continue, but the effects can be much less noticable than during adolescence. Early adulthood can be seen as the best physical condition; because you have sharp senses, are at your strongest and better stamina. Our memory and thinking abilities are at their highest as well. Some social development for us can be identified with our desire to be socially independent and our high drive to be successful, selecting a life partner, and starting a family. An article on Young Adult Development Project (2008) reads; a large and new body of research is revealing that early adulthood is a time of dramatic change in basic thinking structures, as well as in the brain. Consensus is emerging that an 18 year old is not the same person she or he will be at 25, just as an 11 year old is not the same as he or she will be at
According to the MOHO, social environment refers to the social groups, relationships or community a person involve interactively (Kielhofner, 2008). A relationship is also defined as collections of people are interdependent and are enduring similar values, interest and behaviours. During midlife, parental death, restructuring family network and unemployment are most likely to happened (Nicolson, 2014). These loss of roles leads to lack of purpose, identity and structure of everyday life. More specifically, unemployment was proved to linked with stress-related health problems, depression and substances abuse (Kielhofner, 2008). A role help us to shape what we are and direct what we do. Considering the loss of identity which may happened in midlife, social support is needed to deal with these challenges or psychological well-being will be disrupted (Kielhofner,
A person’s social and emotional well-being has a profound effect on their mental health. Social well-being includes the relations that you have with others, both in wider social groups, one-to-one and family level. Strong and supportive relationships with those close to you can provide you with trust and a sense of belonging. This goes hand-in-hand with emotional well-being which sets the capacity to be able to cope with the ups and downs of life and level of resilience to deal with difficulties and tackle day to day routines (Health, 2010).
concentrates the reParents play the most important role in the development of children from his childhood to adolescence. The emotional relationship between the parents and adolescence shape their personality and also have strong impact on mental and physical development. Positive parenting like emotional warmth, involvement with the activities of the adolescents, and consistency have a strong impact on their development and growth (Karavasilis, Doyle, & Markiewicz, 2003). Children who remain under constant observation of their parents, and get warm and affectionate relation from them they have better relations with their peers, within their groups and with their teachers. They acquire skills through observation, training and education
Informal social supports are crucial to the well-being of older adults because they provide a connection to others. They can also be very helpful throughout life and especially as we get older. The book
It is common knowledge in the present time that as we age we should strive to keep our body and mind active; however, recent research shows that it is also very important to remain socially active as well. Isolation and loneliness are an ever increasing reality for older adults as they lose friends and family either to illness or by simply drifting apart. Other difficulties such as hearing loss and increased fatigue make it more difficult to get around as easily as it may have been in youth which can also lead to isolation. Many elderly people live alone, and this time spent in isolation may jeopardize their well-being. In fact, Loneliness has been identified as a primary mental health problem affecting seniors (Pettigrew). This literature review will explore some of the most current research findings which support the idea that staying socially active has many positive influences on the elder population.
In this longitudinal study data was collected regarding the participants social standing when they were 15 and then recollected when they had reached middle adulthood (Marion et al, 2013). The purpose of the study was to test whether the negative impacts of isolation during adolescence were still present in some form during middle adulthood (Marion et al, 2013). They discovered that people who lacked friends during adolescence also struggled during middle adulthood as they reported lowered instances of life satisfaction and lower friendship quality (Marion et al, 2013). The study shows that poor social functioning is a persistent problem throughout the lifespan (Marion et al, 2013). The importance of a strong social support is highlighted in a study by Takizawa et al (2006). The study was based in a village with a high suicide rate where they tested the effect of social support on stress-buffering (Takizawa et al, 2006). The stress-buffering effect of social support was found to be highly effective but only for males (Takizawa et al, 2006). The effect was so high in males that it was found in not only males receiving the support but also in males providing the support, however, there was no effect on depressive symptoms in women (Takizawa et al, 2006). This gender discrepancy was similar but more severe than the one found in Van Aken et al’s (2006)
...t as the individual seeks to become independent, successful in school or employment, and develop satisfying social relationships” (Rank, J.).
House (1981) defined social support as "an interpersonal transaction involving one or more of the following: (1) emotional concern (liking, loving, empathy), (2) instrumental aid (goods or services), (3) information (about the environment), or (4) appraisal (information relevant to self-evaluation)" (Schaefer et al., 1981). Such support can come from a variety of individuals, including a spouse or partner, children, other family members, and friends. Thoits (1986) argues that social support is more effective when it comes from those who are socially similar in values and characteristics, and who are facing or have faced similar stressors somewhat more successfully. Spouses are a likely source of socially similar others, and given the interdependent
Shown in the study, there are two responses. One is for the stressed family member to withdraw from social interactions. The second one is a likelihood for irritability. The observation that stressors make family members withdraw or become more sensitive is true of all ages and can be further influenced with past psychological states (ie depression or anxiety). For example, the articles states that both children and adults are affected with troubles communicating with their peers and show negative behaviors. In an adult males, the withdrawal is a common coping method. Children also lean towards behavior that would allow them to avoid stimulus. Next, it is observed that the mood of the distressed family member can affect other members in what is described as “crossover.” Also, that family members can influence coping
Social functioning has been defined as the ability to construct representations of the relations between oneself and others, and to use those representations flexibly to guide social behavior (Adolphs, 2001). Social functioning and peer relationships in children are of great importance; everything that happens in their peer group has an impact on multiple aspects of their life. For instance, peer relationships and social acceptance have influence on family life and the community, social and emotional functioning and school performance (Grifford-Smith & Browenell, 2003). Social acceptance in school is related to adult health later in life (Galobardes et al., 2004). Lower social acceptance is related to a lowered chance of reaching higher education (Almquist, Modin & Östberg, 2010), but also to an increased risk of adult unemployment and health issues like mental health problems (Almquist, 2009). Peer social rejection is linked to early school dropout (Coie, Dodge & Kupersmidt, 1990) and positive peer relationships are of important influence on learning and successful adaptation in school (Wentzel, 2003). Also, social
Young adults think differently than adolescents and they have different views and opinions on things. During adulthood, an individual begins to discontinue their risky behaviors such as having sex without protection, driving recklessly, and playing dangerous sports. On the other hand, some people still continue this behavior while in adulthood but it is not common. Many people believe that the key sign of actually becoming an adult is financially supporting oneself. This step occurs sooner to the students who either do not attend college or do not finish high school. Students which go to college, this occurs to them later on in life. Establishing intimacy is the sixth step in Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, “intimacy versus isolation.” Once a person has established their own identity, they are prepared to establish a “shared identity” (intimacy) with another person. Men and women resolve intimacy issues very differently, for instance, some women establish intimacy by getting married and having children, before they actually establish their identity. Middle-aged women attending college are an example of these
Aging is an unavoidable and irreversible change as a result of demographic transition in all societies. Family support for the elderly people has become a very important issue in examining the overall well-being of the elderly people. Family support is playing a key role in determining the quality of life (QOL) of the aged people. Elderly women have larger social networks outside the work environment than those of men (Tough et al.., 2012). Family as a social institution is closest and its influence can be felt in everyday life (Health Canada, 2004). It is a place where a person finds and expects the most encouragement, comfort and security and help if needed. “Health is where home is” Canadian Nurses Association (CNA).