Support Processes in Intimate Relationships

In the past twenty years or so, research on support processes in relationships has emerged as a distinct development in the field. Researchers have drawn from studies in the fields of communication, social support, and intimate relationships to conduct research examining support processes in relationships on micro and macro levels. Theoretical models of support processes in intimate relationships have been developed and increasingly sophisticated methodologies and data analytic techniques are being used to accumulate considerable and convincing evidence of the importance and complexity of support processes in intimate relationships. This book aims to provoke and guide new research on social support. The book is divided into five sections designed to reflect emerging themes in this subject. It starts by highlighting the importance of offering support that is consistent with the needs of the recipient. It then focusses on the importance of empathic understanding, validation of support seekers' needs, attachment styles, and the emotional context for effective support provision. It goes on to highlight the complex nature of support, presenting research on the effects of partner support on coping with stress, differential responses to daily support, and the importance of providing support for positive events. The fourth part of the book is comprised of chapters describing the effects of support on health, illness, and injury. Finally, the book concludes by presenting research that explores the role of gender and culture in support processes in couples.