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Support processes in same‐ and mixed‐sex relationships: Type and source matters
Author(s) -
Blair Karen L.,
Holmberg Diane,
Pukall Caroline F.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
personal relationships
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.81
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1475-6811
pISSN - 1350-4126
DOI - 10.1111/pere.12249
Subject(s) - social support , psychology , structural equation modeling , construct (python library) , social psychology , confirmatory factor analysis , family support , developmental psychology , computer science , statistics , mathematics , programming language , medicine , physical therapy
Research has established that social support for relationships is an important predictor of well‐being. However, the underlying assumption that social support specifically for relationships is a separate construct from general social support has not been properly tested empirically, nor has the question of whether support processes vary by source (friends vs. family). The current study ( N = 1,281) used confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to address these issues. Support was found for a theoretical model in which social support specifically for relationships predicts relationship well‐being and, in turn, mental and physical health, even while controlling for general social support. Somewhat different patterns were found by source of support (family vs. friends) and by relationship type (same sex vs. mixed sex).