Applying Social Support Research: Theoretical Problems and Future Directions

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Abstract
Two independent research traditions have evolved that deal with social support‐an analytic tradition that emphasizes theory‐based tests of hypotheses and an applied tradition that emphasizes evaluations of interventions. This paper seeks to stimulate feedback between these two traditions by examining how implicit assumptions and conceptual distinctions embedded within the analytic literature translate into suggestions for intervention. Assumptions that bear on the soundness of undertaking interventions of any kind are considered first, followed by assumptions that bear on the conceptualization of specific intervention strategies. Issues that underlie efforts to implement interventions (e.g., funding, staffing) are also discussed. Examples of research questions that explicitly link the analytic and applied traditions are provided.

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