Studies // Cited work
Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis
Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis.
Level D Review doi:10.1037/0033-2909.98.2.310
What this study supports
Supports the claim that perceived availability of support buffers stress, while social integration has a main effect. Based largely on observational studies.
- Who was studied
- Not applicable: a review of studies on social support, stress and well-being.
- Design
- Review
- Level of evidence
- Cross-sectional, observational, qualitative work and narrative reviews.
Claims that rest on it
Each claim states what the site asserts, at what strength, and with what caveat.
EmpiricalLevel DConfidence HIGH
Perceived availability of support that matches the needs created by a stressor is associated with protection against its adverse effects, while social integration has a general association with well-being.
- Scope
- Adults in the observational studies reviewed.
- Caveat
- Most evidence is observational and cannot fully separate cause from effect.
Last reviewed · Review due · perceived-support-buffers-stress