THE STRESS BUFFERING EFFECTS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT: A RETROSPECTIVE AND INTERVENTION STUDY OF CHINESE AMERICAN AND ANGLO AMERICAN NURSES.
Contributors: California School Of Professional Psychology - Berkeley/Alameda.
Published: 1985
Number of pages: 176
Subjects: Psychology, Clinical.
Description: This study explored the impact of stress and social support on physical and psychological functioning. It examined the effects of longterm (two to six months) and short-term (one week) social support on stressors experienced by 127 nurses during those time periods. Social support is described in terms of the source of support (i.e. spouse/partner, friend, family, coworker, and supervisor), the types of support offered (ie. emotional and cognitive support), and the quality of support (ie. least to most satisfied with support). Social support patterns of Chinese American and Anglo American nurse groups were compared.

Retrospective measures of social support were analyzed to determine the effects of longterm support on initial distress measures (Time 1). Social support was measured one week later (Time 2) to determine the effects of recent social support variables on change in distress.

Hierarchial multiple regression analyses indicate that social support buffers the effects of stress over both longterm and short-term time spans. Specifically, lower distress levels were predicted by longterm sources of support. Supervisor and spouse/partner were reported as the most supportive person in the social network depending on the nature of the stressor. Number of psychological symptoms at Time 1 was predicted by the interaction effect of perceived stress with longterm emotional support and the interaction of perceived stress with longterm cognitive support. Changes in physical symptoms of distress from Time 1 to Time 2 were predicted by the interaction of perceived stress with short-term emotional support and the interaction of perceived stress with short-term cognitive support.

In exploring the social support network in Chinese American and Anglo American nurse groups, one of the differences was in the sources sought out for short-term social support. The implications of the results and methodological considerations for future research were presented.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-08, Section: B, page: 2830.

Thesis (PH.D.)--CALIFORNIA SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY - BERKELEY/ALAMEDA, 1985.

School code: 0039.