Age differences in emotional support buffering on the relationship between physical disability and psychological distress
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2935753 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Cynthia A Rohrbeck (0000-0001-5680-5690, George Washington University, corresponding author), Philip W Wirtz (0000-0001-7540-1608, George Washington University), Jennifer E Marceron (0000-0002-9942-1512, George Washington University) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 754-770 |
| Publication date | 2024-04-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Social and Personal Relationships (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0265-4075 • E-ISSN: 1460-3608 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/02654075231214971 |
| OpenAlex | W4388575363 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 44 |
Greater levels of physical disability are often accompanied by greater levels of psychological distress. Stress Buffering Theory ( Cohen & Wills, 1985 ; Thoits, 2011 ) posits that the level of social support buffers this relationship. Life Stage Theory proposes the previously untested hypothesis that the salience of the buffering offered by social support may decrease with age - i.e., that as individuals age, emotional support offers a weaker buffer of the effect of disability on psychological distress ( Segrin, 2003 ). This research tested a unified Stress Buffering/Life Stage model of psychological distress. We hypothesized that the buffering effect of emotional support is greater for younger adults than for older adults. Study data were drawn from 293 adults who self-identified as having a physical disability. Respondents' age, emotional support, psychological distress, and disability were assessed. A saturated three-way interaction analysis of covariance model was used to evaluate the association of disability and psychological distress, as buffered by emotional support, for older versus younger people. Results were consistent with a unified Stress Buffering Life Stage model. Greater levels of emotional support attenuated the relationship between disability and psychological distress for younger, but not for older, study participants. Self-reported measures and the cross-sectional design precludes making causal inferences. Emotional support may be particularly salient for younger people in buffering the effects of disability on psychological distress
Coping (psychology · Developmental psychology · Distress · Mental health · Psychiatry · Psychological distress · Salience (neuroscience · Social support · Aging and Gerontology Research · Clinical Psychology · Health disparities and outcomes · Health, psychology, and well-being · Psychology · Social Psychology
Physical disability and mental health
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Association between psychological distress and mortality
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The Role of Social Relations in Health Promotion
Stage of Life Course and Social Support as a Mediator of Mood State among Persons with Disability
Disability and Psychosocial Outcomes in Old Age
Gender, Emotional Support, and Well-Being Among the Rural Elderly
Prevalence of Psychological Distress Among Working-Age Adults in the United States, 1999–2018
Social Support and Self-Reported Health Status of Older Adults in the United States
Social support, depressed mood, and adjustment to stress
Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis
Resilience, age, and perceived symptoms in persons with long-term physical disabilities
Attachment relationships in old age
Age differences in emotional support buffering on the relationship between physical disability and psychological distress
Social Support and Strain from Different Relationship Sources
Challenges in conceptualizing social support
Social Support, Occupational Stress, and Health
Perceived Support, Received Support, and Adjustment to Stressful Life Events
Mechanisms Linking Social Ties and Support to Physical and Mental Health
Social Relationships and Health
Age Moderates the Relationship Between Social Support and Psychosocial Problems
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2024 - 2026 (3) |
| Highly cited | No |