THE RELATION OF FREQUENCY, SATISFACTION, AND TYPE OF SOCIALLY SUPPORTIVE BEHAVIORS TO PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT IN MARITAL SEPARATION

The relation of social support to adjustment in marital separation was investigated with 90 participants (42 men and 48 women), separated fr om 0-14 months. Social support was measured by the Social Support Inve ntory (SSI) and the Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors (ISSB). The dependent variables were measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Kitson Attachment Scale, and the Divorce Reaction Inventory. Results indicated that: (a) Social suppor t satisfaction and frequency significantly accounted for variance in t otal symptoms, self-esteem, and attachment above and beyond demographi c variables; (b) Dissatisfaction with social support was positively co rrelated with total symptoms and negatively correlated with self-estee m; (c) In most cases, social support satisfaction (SSI) was a better p redictor of self-esteem, depression, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivit y, somatic symptoms, and total symptoms than social support frequency (ISSB); and (d) Demographic variables did not account for variance in the criteria, contrary to previous research.