The stress-buffering role of social support and personal competence among the rural married

Abstract

This study examines the possible stress‐buffering properties of personal competence and social support with regard to depressive symptoms. The hypothesis examined was that individuals lacking both internal and external resources would manifest higher levels of symptoms as a result of increasing number of life events than would individuals possessing such resources. Further, variation by gender was considered. Data on depressive symptoms (CES‐D Scale), personal competence, social support, and life events were obtained in a 70‐minute interview with randomly selected samples of white married adults (n = 965) from rural counties of Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Ohio. Analyses indicated both the main and buffering effects of personal competence and social support for the total sample. However, these effects varied by sex. While personal competence and life events had consistent main effects for both married males and females–individuals with more stress or lower levels of competence had higher levels of symptoms–effects of social support were more pervasive among the females. Finally, personal competence appeared to have a greater buffering effect than the presence of social support alone. There was also an unanticipated tendency for greater vulnerability to stressors among individuals (particularly males) under conditions of low competence and high support.

A psychoepidemiologic approach to the study of disaster

“…Some articles have considered the effects of both types of resources (Cohen et al, 1982). In one of the most exhaustive studies of the relative importance of personal competence versus social supports, Husaini, Neff, Newbrough, and Moore (1982) observed that both of these factors had direct and buffering effects on distress. However, although personal competence was effective for both males and females, social supports were effective only for females.…”

Fatigue and hope: Relationships to psychosocial adjustment in Korean women with breast cancer

“…Potentially stressful events or situations are stressors (Wheaton, 1983), and resources function as moderators to protect against the effect of the stressor (Wheaton, 1982). The moderating effect of resources on health outcomes has been well documented in the literature (Husaini, Neff, Newbrough, & Moore, 1982;Murrell & Norris, 1983). Budin (1996) and Penninx et al (1997) posited that the impact of stressors on adjustment is moderated, depending on the levels of resources.…”

The Moderating Role of Gender and Gender Role Attitudes on the Link Between Spousal Support and Marital Quality

“…Rather than marriage per se, marital quality appears to be more important for women's well-being (Williams, 1988). Husaini, Neff, Newbrough, and Moore (1982) found that the one situation in which marriage is beneficial for women is when the husband is rated as highly supportive. But what is considered supportive?…”