Week 5 Flashcards
How does Sarason et al 1990 define social support?
Knowing that one is loved and that others will do all they can when a problem arises
How does Rees 2014 define social group?
All those supportive and potentially supportive people in an athlete’s or exercisers environment
E.g. coach, teammates, friends, family, role model, sport scientists
What are the five levels of the social network?
1) acquaintances - speak to neighbours, shopkeepers etc
2) people to share activities - join a class, club, volunteer
3) friends to visit - get to know spouse’s colleagues, social contacts
4) someone to help in difficult times - neighbour or anyone who offers
5) confidants - close / trusted friends
What are the three main types of support?
Social integration
Perceived support
Enacted support
What is social integration?
The number of different types of relationships in an athletes support network
What is perceived support?
A subjective judgement that support will be provided if needed
What is enacted support? (Also known as received support)
Specific helping actions provided by members of an athlete’s support network within a specific time frame
What are the dimensions of support?
Emotional support
Esteem support
Informational support
Tangible support
What is emotional support?
Being there for comfort and security, leading to an athlete feeling loved and cared for
What is esteem support?
Bolstering an athlete’s sense of competence or self esteem
What is informational support?
Providing an athlete with advice or guidance
What is tangible support?
Providing an athlete with concrete instrumental assistance
Two main theoretical models propose explanations of the mechanisms by which social support produces positive outcomes. What are these?
Main (or direct) effects
Stress buffering (or protection or reduction) effect
What is the main (or direct) effects model?
Increases in social support are related to increases in positive outcomes
Social support leads to better performance / greater wellbeing
Main effects are most commonly related to social integration elements (the more provided, the better the athlete will get)
What is meant by six degrees of separation?
If you think of anyone, you’re linked to them by six people
Can connect any two people on the globe by six people
What is the stress buffering (or protection or reduction) effect model?
Social support influences the relationship between a stressor and outcome (via appraisal)
Support either protects from the potentially negative effects of stress or reduces the actual negative effects
Stress buffering effects are most commonly related to enacted elements (it’s not enough to just perceive that there is lots of support, at high levels of stress people actually need to come through and action support)
Stress buffering effect at low levels of stress
No difference in positive outcomes between those with high and low levels of support
Stress buffering effect at high levels of stress
At high levels of stress, more support leads to more positive outcomes
Is support always effective?
Effects of social integration and perceived support are generally positive
However, effects of enacted support are often neutral or sometimes negative - ‘the paradox of support’
What makes support effective?
Initial levels of perceived support
The match of the support to the situation
Context
Providers expertise in providing social support
The timing of the support
How do initial levels of support influence the effectiveness of the support?
Those with low initial levels of support benefit the most
How does the match of the support to the situation influence the effectiveness of support?
Uncontrollable events - emotional and / or esteem support
Controllable events - informational and / or tangible support
However, must be noted that support behaviours serve multiple functions and there is a high degree of overlap
How does context influence the effectiveness of support?
In performance contexts, esteem support is more beneficial than informational and tangible support
How does the providers expertise in providing social support influence the effectiveness of support?
Whether they have experienced similar situations
The quality of the relationship
Level of knowledge and expertise
How does the timing of support influence the effectiveness of support?
Support is more beneficial if provided after appraisal and a request for help (as opposed to before support has been requested)
What is invisible support?
A team mate requests support on a shared task to assist a struggling team mate
A team mate highlights how they are overcoming their “own problem” to influence someone else
What are the implications for sports coaching which support is mostly provided before it is requested?
Invisible support
What are the applied implications and practical recommendations of support in sport?
Even the most well intended, professionally led support interventions can be experienced in a negative manner
Needs to be carefully planned to bolster not undermine recipients autonomy / self efficacy
Athletes should not feel like they must ‘go it alone’ in their pursuit of success
Generate an understanding of and maximise the use of different dimensions of social support
What should athletes be encouraged to do in terms of support?
Be proactive in seeking / using support
It shouldn’t be perceived as a sign of weakness
