Proactive Approaches to Relieving Stress

It is interesting to think about proactive approaches to relieving stress, especially since our society, seems stress-provoking for many, perhaps most individuals. If social context, specifically having a social support system, is as important as many theoretical models propose, learning the benefits of social support as well as how to make the best use of it, seems an important part of intervening in populations who suffer the throes of isolation. An overwhelming amount of research suggests social support predisposes individuals to the most positive outcomes in a wide variety of circumstances (Jason, Witter, & Torres-Harding, 2003; Pakenham & Bursnall, 2006; Schroevers, Helgeson, Sanderman, & Ranchor, 2010). Of course, it would be important to identify cultural and other affects such as biological and neurological circumstances that preclude an individual from utilizing, or even understanding the benefits of social support systems.

Jason, L., Witter, E., & Torres-Harding, S. (2003). Chronic fatigue syndrome, coping, optimism and social support. Journal Of Mental Health, 12(2), 109-118.

Pakenham, K. I., & Bursnall, S. (2006). Relations between social support, appraisal and coping and both positive and negative outcomes for children of a parent with multiple sclerosis and comparisons with children of healthy parents. Clinical Rehabilitation, 20(8), 709-723. doi:10.1191/0269215506cre976oa

Schroevers, M. J., Helgeson, V. S., Sanderman, R., & Ranchor, A. V. (2010). Type of social support matters for prediction of posttraumatic growth among cancer survivors. Psycho-Oncology, 19(1), 46-53. doi:10.1002/pon.1501