Optimizing the support network as a personal resource

Journal title TERAPIA FAMILIARE
Author/s Francesca Caregnato Tosetto
Publishing Year 2025 Issue 2025/137
Language Italian Pages 16 P. 5-20 File size 173 KB
DOI 10.3280/TF2025-137001
DOI is like a bar code for intellectual property: to have more infomation click here

Below, you can see the article first page

If you want to buy this article in PDF format, you can do it, following the instructions to buy download credits

Article preview

FrancoAngeli is member of Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA), a not-for-profit association which run the CrossRef service enabling links to and from online scholarly content.

Usually, when we refer to our support network, we think of the people in our lives with whom we have bonded through family, school, work, friendship, or neighbourhood. Decades of research have shown strong links between social ties and health, indicating that social support can attenuate physiological responses to stress – which are relevant to health – contribute significantly to personal resilience, and be crucial for coping with medium and long-term stressful situations, such as managing the course of an illness. The point of contemplation we aim to reach with this paper is not focused on analysing our support network and its characteristics, but rather on the possibility of developing a systematic self-observation path before approaching those from whom we expect support, comfort, or motivation.

Keywords: Support network, social support, personal resources.

  1. Arnault, D. Saint. (2009). Cultural determinants of help seeking: A model for research and practice. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice, 23(4): 259-278. DOI: 10.1891/1541-6577.23.4.259
  2. Baltes M. (1996). The many faces of dependency in old age. books.google.com. mx/books?hl=es&lr=&id=89d32Zp_0jMC&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=The+- many+faces+ofdependency+in+old+age.&ots=CNKEL5pWxc&sig=0gmrdTcLw- Dftai_GWD8ySeeRlb8.
  3. Block J. & Kremen A.M. (1996). IQ and ego-resiliency: conceptual and empirical connections and separateness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(2): 349-361. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.70.2.349
  4. Brown B. (2016). El poder de ser vulnerable ¿Qué te atreverías a hacer si el miedo no te paralizara? Urano. terapeutaencasa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Brene- Vulnerabilidad-01-01.pdf.
  5. Cohen S. & McKay G. (2020). Social support, stress and the buffering hypothesis: A theoretical analysis. In: Handbook of psychology and health, vol. IV (pp. 253267). New York: Routledge.
  6. Cohen S. (2004). Social relationships and health. American Psychologist, 59(8): 676684. DOI: 10.1037/0003-066X.59.8.676
  7. Cortés M.P. & Figueroa C.R. (2018). Manual ABCDE para la aplicación de Primeros Auxilios Psicológicos en crisis individuales y colectivas. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. cedepca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/manual_abcde_pri- merosauxiliospsicologicos.pdf.
  8. David S. (2017). Il dono e la forza del coraggio emozionale. Disponibile su: www. ted.com/talks/susan_david_the_gift_and_power_of_emotional_courage/ transcript?language=es.
  9. de la Vega R., Molton I.R., Miró J., Smith A.E. & Jensen M.P. (2019). Changes in perceived social support predict changes in depressive symptoms in adults with physical disability. Disability and Health Journal, 12(2): 214-219. DOI: 10.1016/J.DHJO.2018.09.005
  10. Eisenberger N.I. (2013). An empirical review of the neural underpinnings of receiving and giving social support: implications for health. Psychosomatic Medicine, 75(6): 545. DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0B013E31829DE2E7
  11. Galek K., Flannelly K.J., Greene P.B. & Kudler T. (2011). Burnout, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Social Support. Pastoral Psychology, 60(5): 633-649. DOI: 10.1007/S11089-011-0346-7/TABLES/2
  12. Ghi?an A.F., Gheorman V., Ciurea M.E., Gheorman V., Dinescu V.C., Ciurea A.M., Militaru F., Popa R., ?enea-Cojan T. ?tefani?a & Udri?toiu I. (2023). Exploring the prevalence of ptsd in hand trauma: a comprehensive study. Brain Sciences, 13(10): 1-16.
  13. Haber M.G., Cohen J.L., Lucas T. & Baltes B.B. (2007). The relationship between self-reported received and perceived social support: A meta-analytic review. American Journal of Community Psychology, 39(1-2): 133-144.
  14. Hobfoll S.E. (2002). Social and psychological resources and adaptation. Review of General Psychology, 6(4): 307-324. DOI: 10.1037/1089-2680.6.4.30
  15. Juliano M.C.C. & Yunes M.A.M. (2014). Reflections on the social support network as a mechanism for the protection and promotion of resilience. Ambiente e Sociedade, 17(3): 135-152.
  16. Kaniasty K. & Norris F.H. (2000). Help-seeking comfort and receiving social support: the role of ethnicity and context of need. American Journal of Community Psychology, 28(4): 545-581. DOI: 10.1023/A:1005192616058
  17. Kaniasty K. & Norris F.H. (2008). Longitudinal linkages between perceived social support and posttraumatic stress symptoms: Sequential roles of social causation and social selection. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 21(3): 274-281. DOI: 10.1002/JTS.20334
  18. Kasler J., Dahan J. & Elias M.J. (2008). The relationship between sense of hope, family support and post-traumatic stress disorder among children: the case of young victims of rocket attacks in Israel. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 3(3): 182-191. DOI: 10.1080/17450120802282876
  19. Lakey B. & Drew J.B. (1997). A social-cognitive perspective on social support. Sourcebook of Social Support and Personality, 107-140. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4899-1843-7_6
  20. Lawton M. & Nahemow L. (1973). Ecology and the aging process. In: Eisdorfer C. & Lawton M.P. (eds.), The psychology of adult development and aging (pp. 619674). American Psychological Association.
  21. Makabe R. & Nomizu T. (2007). Social support and psychological and physical states among Japanese women with breast cancer before and after breast surgery. Oncology Nursing Forum, 34(4): 883-889. DOI: 10.1188/07.ONF.883-889
  22. Melrose K.L., Brown G.D.A. & Wood A.M. (2015). When is received social support related to perceived support and well-being? When it is needed. Personality and Individual Differences, 77: 97-105. DOI: 10.1016/J.PAID.2014.12.047
  23. Muñoz M., Ausín B. & Pérez-Santos E. (2007). Primeros auxilios psicológicos: Protocolo ACERCARSE. Psicologia Conductual, 15(3): 479-505. www.behavio- ralpsycho.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/10.Muñoz_15-3oa.pdf.
  24. Non A.L., Román J.C., Clausing E.S., Gilman S.E., Loucks E.B., Buka S.L., Appleton A.A. & Kubzansky L.D. (2020). Optimism and Social Support Predict Healthier Adult Behaviors Despite Socially Disadvantaged Childhoods. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 27(2): 200-212. DOI: 10.1007/S12529-020-09849-W/METRIC
  25. Pernice-Duca F. (2010). Family network support and mental health recovery. Journal of MaritalandFamilyTherapy,36(1):13-27. Cadernos de Saude Publica, 32(12): 1-11. Bulletin, 131(6): 925-971. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.131.6.925
  26. Robinaugh D.J., Marques L., Traeger L.N., Marks E.H., Sung S.C., Gayle Beck J., Pollack M.H. & Simon N.M. (2011). Understanding the relationship of perceived social support to post-trauma cognitions and posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 25(8): 1072-1078.
  27. SAMHSA (2006). National consensus statement on mental health recovery.
  28. Sarason B., Sarason I. & Pierce G. (1990). Traditional views of social support and their impact on assessment. In: Sarason B.R., Sarason I.G. & Pierce G.R. (eds.), Social support: An interactional view (pp. 9-25). New York: John Wiley & Sons
  29. Sarason I.G., Sarason B.R. & Pierce G.R. (1995). Stress and social support. In: Hobfoll S.E., de Vries M.W. (eds.), Extreme Stress and Communities: Impact and Intervention. NATO ASI Series, vol. 80, Springer, Dordrecht.
  30. Sippel L.M., Pietrzak R.H., Charney D.S., Mayes L.C. & Southwick S.M. (2015). How does social support enhance resilience in the trauma-exposed individual? Ecology and Society, 20(4). DOI: 10.5751/ES-07832-200410
  31. Skalski S., Uram P., Dobrakowski P. & Kwiatkowska A. (2021). The link between ego-resiliency, social support, SARS-CoV-2 anxiety and trauma effects. Polish adaptation of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 171(August 2020): 1-7.
  32. Taylor M.G. & Carr D. (2021). Psychological resilience and health among older adults: a comparison of personal resources. Journals of Gerontology – Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 76(6): 1241-1250.
  33. Taylor Z.E., Doane L.D. & Eisenberg N. (2013). Transitioning from high school to college. Emerging Adulthood, 2(2): 105-115. DOI: 10.1080/15427609.2010.504458.
  34. Tugade M.M. & Fredrickson B.L. (2004). Resilient individuals use positive emotions to bounce back from negative emotional experiences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86(2): 320-333. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.86.2.320
  35. Van Schouwen K. (2021). Learning to Ask for Help. The Voice, 66(3): 15.
  36. van Zyl L.E. & Rothmann S. (2014). Towards happiness interventions: construct clarification and intervention methodologies. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 24(4): 327-341. DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2014.980621
  37. Vaux A., Burda P. & Stewart D. (1986). Orientation toward utilization of support resources. Journal of Community Psychology, 14(2): 159-170.
  38. Wethington E. & Kessler R.C. (1986). Perceived support, received support, and adjustment to stressful life events. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 27(1): 78-89. DOI: 10.2307/2136504
  39. World Health Organization (2013). Comprehensive mental health action plan 20132020. Resolution WHA66/8. apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/wha66/a66_r8-en. pdf.
  40. Zaki J. & Mitchell J.P. (2013). Intuitive prosociality. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 22(6): 466-470. DOI: 10.1177/0963721413492764
  41. Zhao X. & Epley N. (2022). Surprisingly happy to have helped: underestimating prosociality creates a misplaced barrier to asking for help. Psychological Science, 33(10): 1708-1731. DOI: 10.1177/09567976221097615

Francesca Caregnato Tosetto, Ottimizzare la rete di sostegno come risorsa personale in "TERAPIA FAMILIARE" 137/2025, pp 5-20, DOI: 10.3280/TF2025-137001