Social Support, Self-efficacy, And Depressive Symptoms: An Integrative Model

The present study investigated factors that mediate the association between social support and psychological adjustment. An integrative model proposed that the link between social support and psychological adjustment is mediated by self-efficacy and, in turn, by adaptive coping strategies. The model was tested in a five-week longitudinal study with a sample of 300 college students. As hypothesized, Time 1 social support predicted decreased Time 2 depressive symptoms both directly and indirectly through self-efficacy and, in turn, adaptive coping strategies. In a prospective model that controlled for initial depressive symptoms, the association between Time 1 social support and Time 2 depressive symptoms was fully mediated by self-efficacy and adaptive coping strategies.