Specifying the Buffering Hypothesis: Support, Strain, and Depression

The concept of «matching» is central to theories of social support, as researchers attempt to specify the links between the type of support, the source of support, and the type of stressor, and to identify their function in the support process. This study examines these links more closely by differentiating between spouse and friend support, and by considering different types of life problems (e.g., role and ambient strains). I hypothesized a continuum of support efficacy whereby spouses and friends can ameliorate the depressing effects of nonfamilial strains (e.g., work strains)