Provider and recipient factors that may moderate the effectiveness of received support: examining the effects of relationship quality and expectations for support on behavioral and cardiovascular reactions.

Social relationships have been shown to predict decreased risk for morbidity and mortality. However, the more precise processes underlying these associations are in need of exploration. In this study, we examined important provider (relationship quality) and recipient-related (support expectations) factors that might influence the effectiveness of receiving support on cardiovascular reactivity (CVR). Participants discussed a stressful event with either a supportive or ambivalent friend, and were either given instructions that included an explicit expectation of support provision or no expectation during the task. Behavioral coding revealed fewer emotionally supportive behaviors and marginally more negative behaviors from ambivalent friends. Receiving support from an ambivalent friend was also associated with higher systolic blood pressure reactivity compared to a supportive friend, but had no effects on diastolic blood pressure or heart rate; nor were there any significant statistical interactions with the expectation manipulation. Overall, support expectations had little influence on cardiovascular and behavioral responses. Implications for the study of received support and health are discussed along with potential mechanisms responsible for such links.