Tendency of Support Seeking and Psychological Outcomes in a Dating Relationship: Roles of Relationship Qualities Across Cultures

Interdependence model of health has noted support seeking as an explanation for health benefits of close relationships. Yet, cross-cultural studies have well documented a lower tendency of seeking support in close relationship among Asians than among Americans. Relatively unknown is whether support seeking would explain the associations of relationship qualities with health outcomes in a similar manner across cultures. Based on three-factor model of relationship qualities, the present research examined how indicators of relationship quality would be associated with psychological outcomes and how such associations would be mediated by the tendency of support seeking in a heterosexual dating relationship among college students from Mainland China (Study 1), and Hong Kong and the United States (Study 2). Study 1 found that relationship depth was associated with the willingness of support seeking and life satisfaction through the tendency of support seeking among Mainland Chinese. Study 2 showed that relationship satisfaction had stronger associations with the likelihood of support seeking among Hong Kong Chinese than among Americans, but perceived support and conflict had stronger associations with support seeking among Americans than among Hong Kong Chinese. Findings contribute to the understanding of social support transaction processes in dating relationships by uncovering culturally distinctive interpersonal antecedents of support seeking. What is the public significance of this article? Tendency of support seeking is better predicted by perceived support and conflict among Americans but by relationship satisfaction among Hong Kong Chinese. Tendency of support seeking may explain the mental health benefits of high-quality dating relationship.