Partner Support

The term partner support traditionally refers to the process of responding with helping acts (behavioral as well as psychological) to a difficulty or problem of one’s partner in a couple relationship. More recently, this definition was extended as to include responses apt to sustain the partner when facing positive events and life opportunities as well. Historically, from the interest for general social support, researchers have recognized the relevant role of the specific relationships on the effects produced by social support. Couple relationship scholars, in particular, have drawn attention on the fact that intimate partners are especially important sources of support, who cannot be easily substituted. Indeed, social epidemiology has often used marital status as a measure of social support availability.