WOMENS PERCEPTIONS OF THE NATURE AND ADEQUACY OF THEIR PRESENT SUPPORT RELATIONSHIPS

Concern is commonly expressed about the adequacy of women's social sup port. Typically, women are described as suffering from a 'support gap' or a 'relational deficit' whereby they give more support to others th an they receive in return. Men are frequently faulted for not being ab le and/or willing to provide nurturing and emotional support to the wo men in their lives. This study was undertaken to examine women's perce ptions of the nature and adequacy of their present support relationshi ps. It was intended to learn on whom women typically rely for various kinds of support, how adequate they perceive this support to be, and w hat changes they would like to see. Results of the study indicated tha t the majority of women perceive themselves to receive adequate suppor t from others. It was also evident that women feel that they receive a bout equal support from others in general and from their spouse/intima te, as they give in return. It was found that women, particularly marr ied women, relied extensively on men for their social support, most of ten naming their male intimate as the most supportive person in their lives. Women tended to most frequently characterize the kinds of suppo rt they received from men as 'Shows Caring and Personal Interest', and 'Gives Encouragement, Praise and Confidence'. While women, particular ly married women, relied more on men than on women for most kinds of s upport examined, they also expressed more dissatisfaction with the qua lity of the support received from their male support persons than from their female support persons. Major dissatisfactions described (regar ding male support) were lack of understanding and acceptance, and inad equate expression of appreciation for their role in the home. The resu lts suggest that men play a far more prominent role in providing value d social support for the women in their lives than they are generally given credit for doing.