Social Support is associated with how networking helps people cope with stressful events. Besides it can enhance psychological well-being. Social support distinguishes between four types of support (House, 1981). Emotional support is associated with sharing life experiences. It involves the provision of empathy, love, trust and caring. Instrumental support involves the provision of tangible aid and services that directly assist a person in need. It is provided by close friends, colleagues and neighbours. Informational support involves the provision of advice, suggestions, and information that a person can use to address problems. Appraisal support involves the provision of information that is useful for self-evaluation purposes: constructive feedback, affirmation and social comparison.
Social workers should eat, live and breathe this. All of these types of support are critical in providing comprehensive support to communities. Life experiences should lead to services that help support overcoming struggles shared. With whatever programming is done, it should always be evaluated.
I see this in higher education on this campus with the diversity initiatives President Schlissel is implementing. I am hopeful that social support theory is being used in the implementation process. It seems like they are trying to provide a lot of entries for engagement. Will we see if they follow through with it.
Glanz, K., Rimer, B.K. & Lewis, F.M. (2002). Health Behavior and Health Education. Theory, Research and Practice.San Fransisco: Wiley & Sons.
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