Stress, State Anxiety and Social Support In Relation to Loneliness

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Stress, State Anxiety and Social Support In
Relation to Loneliness

• Stacey Dangler
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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Abstract

• Based on previous research, it was hypothesized
  that social support buffers the effects of stress
  and state anxiety on loneliness.

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Introduction

• Affects of Loneliness
• Fatigue, depression, tension and helplessness
  (Jones, Rose, Russell, 1990)
• Social isolation and have low opinions of their
  character and believe that other share the same
  belief (Jones, Freemon, Goswick, 1981)

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Introduction contd

• Previous findings
• Buffering hypothesis of social support for stress
  on anxiety and depression (Flannery Wieman,
  1989)
• Social support correlated to loneliness (Jones,
  Rose, Russell, 1990)
• Anxiety and loneliness are highly correlated
  (Jones, Rose, Russell, 1990)

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Hypothesis

• Social support buffers the effect of stress and
  anxiety on loneliness

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Hypothesis (illustrated)
Stress level High Medium Low
Low social support
Medium social support
Stress level High Medium Low
Loneliness
Loneliness
State Anxiety
State Anxiety
High social support
Stress level High Medium Low
Loneliness
State Anxiety
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Methods

• Archival data set used (Bishop, 1997)
• Survey given to undergraduates at UNL
• Traditional students ages 18-20 (M18.7)
• 102 females and 102 males
• Participated in the study by signing up and
  filling out the questionnaire
• Non traditional students over age 30 (M38.4)
• 78 males and 123 females
• Were contacted through the mail and later
  received the survey to be completed

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Methods contd

• Looked at four of the scales
• Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social
  Support (MSPSS)
• State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
• Life Experiences Survey (LES)
• Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (RULS)

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Methods contd

• Divided state anxiety, stress and support into
  three levels of low, medium and high
• Surveys that contained insufficient data or were
  incomplete were excluded from the analysis

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Results

• There were significant interactions of support,
  state anxiety, and stress for loneliness when
  considering friend, significant other and total
  social support
• The buffering hypothesis was partially supported
  by the data
• For friend social support, F(8,378)2.60,
  p.009, Mse74.17, significant other social
  support, F(8,378)2.15, p.031, Mse80.77, and
  total, F(8,378)2.36, p.017, Mse70.21

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Low Total Social Support
Medium Total Social Support
High Total Social Support
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Results contd

• Main effect of friend social support, significant
  other social support, family social support, and
  total social support

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F(2,378)51.02, p.001, Mse74.17
F(2,378)33.27, p.001, Mse80.77
F(2,378)29.60, p.001, Mse81.56
F(2,378)51.98, p.001, Mse70.21
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Results contd

• Main effect of state anxiety for all support
  types

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F(2,378)24.06, p.001, Mse74.17
F(2,378)24.44, p.001, Mse80.77
F(2,378)17.50, p.001, Mse81.56
F(2,378)21.02, p.001, Mse70.21
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Results contd

• Also significant interaction of total social
  support and state anxiety for loneliness

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F(4, 378)2.55, p.039, Mse70.21
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Discussion

• Partial support for the buffering hypothesis
• Demonstrates that social support can counteract
  the effects of anxiety and stress
• Another study (Krause, 1995) explains increases
  in higher support levels.

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Medium Significant Other Social Support
High Significant Other Social Support
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Conclusion

• While social support generally buffers the
  effects of anxiety and stress on loneliness,
  there is much to be studied.
• Support does not directly fix the problem, it can
  increase the problem.