CLARIFYING THE FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT IN LATER LIFE

Research on the stress-buffering properties of social support contains a number of contradictory findings. At least part of this problem may be attributed to the fact that researchers have not developed a well- articulated theory explaining how social support functions in later li fe. Based on recent developments in identity theory, evidence is prese nted which suggests that emotional support tends to reduce the deleter ious effects of some types of stress (i.e., events arising in salient social roles) but not others (i.e., stressors that emerge in roles tha t are valued less highly). This theoretical framework is extended by s howing that social support operates at least in part by bolstering fee lings of control and self-worth that have been eroded by stressful exp eriences. However, the data indicate that these beneficial effects are restricted to feelings of control and self-esteem that are associated with the same roles in which the stressors emerged.