Coping with stress: Role of social support

Stress is the physiological and psychological or emotional response of individuals to the circumstances
and events. It has become one of the leading causes of depression. There are various techniques or
ways to cope with the problem of stress. One of them is social support, which plays highly significant
role to get rid of this problem.
Social support is the response, reaction, information and feedback from others that an individual is
loved and cared for, esteemed and valued, and included in a network of communication and mutual
obligation. It has been proved by the scientific research that social support consistently helps individuals
to efficiently and effectively cope with their stresses. For instance, in one research study, depressed
persons had fewer and less-supportive relationships with family members, friends or peer group, and
colleagues or co-workers than did people who were not depressed.
Hence, social and intimate relationships, through sharing and caring, play very significant role to cope
with stress and depression. Close, positive attachments to others, both family and friends, consistently
show up as important buffers of stress.