Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T14:22:37.746Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Collectivize Social Support? Elements for Reconsidering the Social Dimension in the Study of Social Support

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

Esteban Sánchez Moreno
Esteban Sánchez Moreno*
Affiliation:
Complutense University of Madrid
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Esteban Sánchez Moreno, Departamento de Sociología V, Escuela Universitaria de Trabajo Social. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Campus de Somosaguas. 28223 Madrid (Spain). E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Psychological models of mental disorders play an important role in the explanation of psychological deterioration. Researchers from this area usually study several cognitive and behavioral variables to account for the onset and maintenance of depression. However, many authors have detected the need to include a “social dimension” in the explanation of deterioration. In this sense, social support has become a crucial aspect in the study of mental health, and the psychological literature on this topic has generated an intense debate about several facets of the positive impact of social networks on psychological well-being. In this article, the author defends that this increasing centrality of the concept has been accompanied by a psychological reductionism that is making the role of “social aspects” to explain psychological well-being more problematic. Implications of this reductionism are discussed, and an alternative proposal is made to overcome some theoretical and empirical problems related to social support research.

Los modelos psicológicos explicativos de los trastornos mentales tienen un papel central en la explicación del deterioro psicológico. Los investigadores en el área suelen manejar algunas variables cognitivas y conductuales para dar cuenta de la aparición y persistencia de la depresión. Sin embargo, numerosos autores han detectado la necesidad de incluir una “dimensión social” en la explicación de dicho deterioro. En este sentido, el apoyo social se ha convertido en un aspecto central para el estudio de la salud mental, y la bibliografía psicológica sobre el tema ha generado un intenso debate en torno a diversos aspectos del efecto positivo de las redes sociales en el bienestar psicológico. En el presente artículo el autor defiende que esta creciente centralidad del concepto se ha visto acompañada por un reduccionismo psicológico que está problematizando el papel de ‘lo social’ en las explicaciones del bienestar psicológico. Se comentan las implicaciones de este reduccionismo, al tiempo que se realiza una propuesta alternativa para superar algunos problemas teóricos y empíricos relacionados con la investigación sobre el apoyo social.

Keywords

social supportsocial integrationmental healthapoyo socialintegración socialsalud mental
Type
Articles
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , November 2004 , pp. 124 - 134
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Antonucci, T.C. (1985). Personal characteristics, social networks and social behavior. In Binstock, R.H. & Shanas, E. (Eds.), Handbook of aging and the social sciences (pp. 94–128). NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold.Google Scholar
Antonucci, T.C., & Akiyama, H. (1987). Social networks in adult life and a preliminary examination of the convoy model. Journal of Gerontology, 42, 519–527.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Antonucci, T.C., & Jackson, J.S. (1990). The role of reciprocity in social support. In Sarason, B.R., Sarason, I.G., & Pierce, G.R. (Eds.), Social support: An interactional view (pp. 173–198) NY: Wiley.Google Scholar
Barrón, A. (1996). Apoyo social. Aspectos teóricos y aplicaciones. Madrid: Siglo XXI.Google Scholar
Barrón, A., & Sánchez Moreno, E. (2001). Estructura social, apoyo social y salud mental. Psicothema, 13, 17–23.Google Scholar
Barrón, A., & Sánchez Moreno, E. (2003). Alienación, apoyo social y depresión. Encuentros en Psicología Social, 1, 225–229.Google Scholar
Baumeister, R.F., & Leary, M.R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 3, 497–529.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1986). Vínculos afectivos: formación, desarrollo y pérdida. Madrid: Morata.Google Scholar
Cassel, J. (1976). The contribution of the social environment to host resistance. American Journal of Epidemiology, 104, 107–123.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chipuer, H.M. (2001). Dyadic attachments and community connectedness: Links with youths' loneliness experiences. Journal of Community Psychology, 29, 429–446.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cobb, S. (1976). Social support as a moderator of life stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 38, 300–314.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cohen, S. (1988). Psychosocial models of the role of social support in the etiology of physical disease. Health Psychology, 7, 269–297.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cohen, S., & McKay, G. (1984). Social support, stress, and the buffering hypothesis: A theoretical analysis. In Baum, A., Taylor, S.E., & Singer, J.E. (Eds.), Handbook of psychology and health. Vol. IV. Social psychological aspects of health (253–267). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Cohen, S., & Syme, S.L. (1985). Issues in the study and application of social support. In Cohen, S. & Syme, S.L. (Eds.), Social support and health (pp. 3–22). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Dean, A., & Ensel, W.M. (1982). Modelling social support, life events, competence, and depression in the context of age and sex. Journal of Community Psychology, 10, 392–408.3.0.CO;2-2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dean, A., Kolody, B., & Wood, P. (1990). Effects of social support from various sources on depression in elderly persons. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 31, 148–161.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Díaz-Veiga, P. (1993). Desarrollo de la evaluación del apoyo social. In Martínez, M.F. (Ed.), Psicología Comunitaria (pp. 173–186). Madrid: Eudema.Google Scholar
Durkheim, E. (1982). La división del trabajo social (Posada, C.G., Trans.). Madrid: Akal. (Original work published 1893).Google Scholar
Durkheim, E. (1976). El suicidio (L. Díaz Sánchez, Trans.). Madrid: Akal. (Original work published 1897).Google Scholar
Durkheim, E. (1982). Las formas elementales de la vida religiosa. El sistema totémico en Australia (R. Ramos Torre, Trans.). Madrid: Akal. (Original work published 1912).Google Scholar
Farrell, M.C., Barnes, G.M., & Banerjee, S. (1995). Family cohesion as a buffer against the effects of problem-drinking fathers on psychological distress, deviant behavior, and heavy drinking in adolescents. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 36, 377–385.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haines, V.A., & Hubert, J.S. (1992). Network range and health. Journal of health and Social Behavior, 33, 254–266.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Homans, G.C. (1968). El grupo humano. Buenos Aires: Eudeba.Google Scholar
House, J.S., & Kahn, L. (1985). Measures and concepts of social support. In Cohen, S. & Syme, S.L. (Eds.), Social support and health (pp. 83–108). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Lakey, B., & Heller, K. (1988). Social support from a friend, perceived support, and social problem solving. American Journal of Community Psychology, 16, 811–824.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Laireiter, A., & Baumann, U. (1992). Network structures and support functions: Theoretical and empirical analyses. In Veiel, H.O. & Baumann, U. (Eds.), The meaning and measurement of social support (pp. 33–55). NY: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation.Google Scholar
Lin, N., Dean, A., & Ensel, W.M. (1986). Social support, life events and depression. NY: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Lin, N., & Ensel, W.M. (1984). Depression-mobility and its social etiology: The role of life events and social support. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 25, 176–188.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lin, N., & Ensel, W.M. (1989). Life stress and health: Stressors and resources. American Sociological Review, 54, 382–399.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lin, N., Woelfel, M.W., & Light, S.C. (1985). The buffering effect of social support subsequent to an important life event. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 26, 247–267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lukes, S. (1984). Emile Durkheim. Su vida y su obra. Madrid: CIS/Siglo XXI.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martínez, M.F., García, M., & Maya, I. (2001). Una tipología analítica de las redes de apoyo social en inmigrantes africanos en Andalucía. Reis, 95, 99–125.Google Scholar
Pierce, G.R., Sarason, B.R., Sarason, I.G., Joseph, H.J., & Henderson, C.A. (1996). Conceptualizing and assessing social support in the context of the family. In Pierce, G.R., Sarason, B.R., & Sarason, I.G. (Eds.), Handbook of social support and the family (pp. 3–23). NY: Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rodríguez Ibáñez, J.E. (1989). La perspectiva sociológica: historia, teoría y método. Madrid: Tecnos.Google Scholar
Sánchez Moreno, E. (1998). Apoyo social, integración social, y salud mental. Revista de Psicología Social, 13, 537–544.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sánchez Moreno, E. (2002a). Sociología y enfermedad mental. Reflexiones en torno a un desencuentro. Revista Internacional de Sociología, 31, 35–58.Google Scholar
Sánchez Moreno, E. (2002b). Individuo, sociedad y depresión. Málaga, Spain: Aljibe.Google Scholar
Sánchez Moreno, E. (2004). Por una sociología de la enfermedad mental. Etiología. Cuadernos de Trabajo Social, 16, 49–71.Google Scholar
Sánchez Moreno, E., Álvaro, J.L., & Garrido, A. (2000). Estrés y salud mental: El papel de la posición social y las estrategias de afrontamiento. In del Valle, J. Fernández, Herrero, J., & Bravo, A. (Eds.), Intervención psicosocial y comunitaria (pp. 397–403). Madrid: Biblioteca Nueva.Google Scholar
Sánchez Moreno, E., & Barrón, A. (2003). Social psychology of mental health: The social structure and personality perspective. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 6, 3–11.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sánchez Moreno, E., Garrido, A., & Álvaro, J.L. (2003). Un modelo psicosociológico para el estudio de la salud mental. Revista de Psicología Social, 18, 17–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sarason, I.G. (1988). Social support, personality, and health. In Janisse, M.P. (Ed.), Individual differences, stress, and health psychology (pp. 109–128). NY: Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sarason, B.R., Pierce, G.R., & Sarason, I.G. (1990). Social support: The sense of acceptance and the role of relationships. In Sarason, B.R., Sarason, I.G., & Pierce, G.R. (Eds.), Social support: An interactional view (pp. 97–128). NY: Wiley.Google Scholar
Sarason, I.G., & Sarason, B.R. (1985). Social support. Insights from assessment and experimentation. In Sarason, I.G. & Sarason, B.R. (Eds.), Social Support: Theory, Research and Applications (pp. 39–50). Dordrecht, Holland: Martinus Nijhoff.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sarason, I.G., Sarason, B.R., & Pierce, G.R. (1992). Three contexts of social support. In Veiel, H.O. & Baumann, U. (Eds.), The meaning and measurement of social support (pp. 143–154). NY: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation.Google Scholar
Sarason, I.G., Sarason, B.R., & Shearin, E.N. (1986). Social support as an individual difference variable: Its stability, origins, and relational aspects. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 845–855.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seeman, T.E., Lusignolo, T.M., Albert, M., & Berkman, L. (2001). Social relationships, social support, and patterns of cognitive aging in healthy, high-functioning older adults: McArthur studies of successful aging. Health Psychology, 20, 243–255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stoller, E.P., & Pugliesi, K.L. (1991). Size and effectiveness of informal helping networks: A panel study of older people in the community. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 32, 180–191.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thoits, P. (1983). Multiple identities and psychological well-being: A reformulation and test of the social isolation hypothesis. American Sociological Review, 48, 174–187.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thoits, P. (1995). Stress, coping, and social support processes: Where are we? What are next? [Extra issue] Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, 53–79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vaux, A. (1988). Social support: Theory, research and intervention. NY: Praeger.Google Scholar
Wills, T.A. (1985). Supportive functions of interpersonal relationships. In Cohen, S. & Syme, S.L. (Eds.), Social support and health (pp. 61–82). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.Google Scholar