An Experimental Approach to Social Support Communications: Interactive Coping in Close Relationships

Will you be there for me when things go right? Supportive responses to positive event disclosures.

“…In fact, an enthusiastic response to a discussion of recent problems is likely to have negative consequences for the person and the relationship. There are existing systems for coding social support provisions (e.g., Barbee & Cunningham, 1995). Understanding capitalization behaviors was the focus of the current research, and comparisons of an existing social support behavioral coding schemes to our own would have been difficult, thus reactions to negative event disclosures were not examined.…”

Communication of Social Support in Computer-Mediated Groups for People With Disabilities

“…We initially chose the coding system described by Barbee and Cunningham (I 995), because it was developed relatively recently, its validity and reliability received preliminary empirical support, and it appeared to be comprehensive. In addition, the system was purported to capture the interactive quality of social support (Barbee & Cunningham, 1995). Although not fully interactive in "real time," computer bulletins do permit delayed message exchange, and we hoped to capture this quality when possible.…”

“…One of us and a research assistant unfamiliar with the specifics of the study reviewed the transcripts, discussed the applicability of coding categories, identified examples for each category, and revised category definitions as needed. Through this iterative process, we determined that the Barbee and Cunningham (1995) coding system was unworkable with this particular data set, largely because we lacked access to the full range of nonverbal behaviors. As a result, coders found it difficult to discriminate among many of the 26 subcategories.…”

“…One line of research directly related to our effort has attempted to describe categories of social support behaviors used by able-bodied persons (e.g., Barbee & Cunningham, 1995;Cutrona & Suhr, 1992;Gottlieb, 1985;House, 1981;Shilman & Giladi, 1985). Existing category systems range from simple to extremely complex.…”

“…affirmation or feedback), informational support (i.e., advice or suggestions), and instrumental support (i.e., physical assistance). Barbee and Cunningham's (1995) Interactive Coping Behavior Coding System is much more complex and comprises five supratypes: (a) solve behaviors (problem-focused approach), (b) solace behaviors (emotion-focused approach), (c) dismiss behaviors (problem focused-avoidance), (d) dismiss behaviors (problem focused-avoidance), and (e) escape behaviors (emotion-focused avoidance). There are 26 subcategories listed under these five supratypes.…”