Recipients' perceptions of support attempts across various stressful life events

Abstract

Integrating the work of several researchers (Cutrona & Suhr, 1992; Dakof & Taylor, 1990; Lehman et al, 1986; Lehman & Hemphill, 1990), this study incorporates various stressful life events into a general taxonomy of helpful and unhelpful support attempts. Further, this study examines attributions made concerning beliefs about why people provide helpful and unhelpful messages and the type of the relationship between the provider and the recipient. Findings indicate that the most frequent types of helpful and unhelpful messages fell into the category of emotional and esteem support, while network support and tangible aid were infrequently reported. Findings further indicated that recipients tended to attribute helpful messages to providers' concern for them. Unhelpful messages were primarily attributed to trying to be helpful. A brief rationale for these findings are provided as well as directions for future research.