Social support and adjustment: predictive benefits of social climate indices.

This study estimates the relationship between social support and physical and psychological adjustment, using measures that afford a qualitative assessment of social support. Qualitative indices of social support in family (Family Relationships Index) and work (Work Relationships Index) environments were derived from available social climate measures. Respondents were a randomly selected community sample of 267 male and 267 female adult family members. Results support hypotheses that qualitative measures of support in family and work environments predict psychosomatic complaints and depression after variance due to negative life change and quantitative measures of social support is accounted for. While the work environment is a more important source of support for men than women, the family environment provides an especially potent source of support for unemployed women.