Social support

Abstract

The concept of social support has long been used in contexts of problematic situations, crises, difficult and traumatic events, as one of elements of seeking help and the mechanisms of health and disease. Recently it has been used in analyzing the problems of stress and ways of coping with it. Social support is one of the elements of psychosocial resistance resources, known as the properties of individuals and groups that are necessary to cope with difficult situations and as a consequence - to achieve an optimal state of adaptation. Mere fact of having social support, as an interactive resource, stemming from the outside, is not synonymous with the ability to cope with problems and maintaining health. There is a need of readiness of the individual and her own activity to its causative use and processing. A number of difficulties in giving clear definition of this phenomenon have a multifaceted character. They are dictated by the genesis of dealing with social support inherent in man's practical experience, and derived from natural need to help others.