The effects of stress and social support on health: a research challenge for family medicine.

Family physicians frequently encounter patients who have recently experienced stressful life changes and who have weak social supports. Since an accumulation of evidence indicates that these psychosocial profiles are associated with health impairment, further investigation of these factors is of importance to family medicine. This paper reviews conceptual and methodologic issues involved in the assessment of the health effects of stress and social support and identifies particular questions and directions appropriate for family medicine research. The ultimate goal of research inquiry in this area is to develop effective clinical and public health strategies that prevent or minimize adverse health consequences.