Dean A, Lin N
J Nerv Ment Dis. 1977 Dec;165(6):403-17. doi: 10.1097/00005053-197712000-00006.
Over the pase 20 years, a sizable body of literature has developed which serves to establish that stressful life events are associated with the onset, incidence, and prevalence of a wide range of physical and psychiatric disorders. As measured by the Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale, or similar instruments, the stressful life events are fundamentally sociological in nature. Yet, paradoxically, the research has been largely limited in the relevant basic sociological theory and data brought to or yielded from investigation. Recently, however, several prominent researchers have emphasized the importance of studying the role of social support systems as possible buffers or mediators of stress. The most basic objective of this paper is to contribute to the advancement of such studies by clearly identifying key empirical, theoretical and methodological problems and suggesting some approaches to their resolution. Specifically, this paper offers: a) a selective review of the essential status of empirical knowledge; b) an examination of the nature and significance of social support systems; c) clarification of methodological and theoretical problems; and d) detailed proposals for approaching problems of measurement and research design.
在过去20年里，已经形成了大量的文献，这些文献有助于证实，生活中的应激事件与多种身体和精神疾病的发生、发病率及流行率相关。通过霍尔姆斯和拉赫社会再适应评定量表或类似工具衡量，生活中的应激事件本质上属于社会学范畴。然而，矛盾的是，相关研究在很大程度上局限于调查中引入或产生的相关基础社会学理论和数据。不过，最近几位杰出的研究人员强调了研究社会支持系统作为压力可能的缓冲器或调解者所起作用的重要性。本文最基本的目标是通过明确识别关键的实证、理论和方法问题，并提出一些解决这些问题的方法，来推动此类研究的进展。具体而言，本文提供：a）对实证知识基本状况的选择性回顾；b）对社会支持系统的性质和意义的考察；c）对方法和理论问题的澄清；d）针对测量和研究设计问题的详细建议。
