Component Social Support Processes: Comments and Integration

The current interest in psychological and health-protective effects of social support can be derived from epidemiological and public health models of disease etiology in which environmental resources are seen as reducing risk and vulnerability. Although positive effects for social support have been reported, social support research has not been theory driven, so we still lack a basic understanding of how social ties are health protective. Building upon prior work of symbolic interactionists, a model is presented that highlights two key components of social support: esteem-enhancing appraisals and stress-related interpersonal transactions. The model is discussed along with significant issues raised by other articles in this series.