Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that may lead to social disability. As a consequence, the psychological well-being of RA patients can be strained. Social support is a possible moderator of the relation between social disability and psychological well-being. The focus of the present study is on the main effect versus the buffering effect of social support.
Data on 54 RA patients were gathered by means of a 2-hr interview at the patient's home.
Receiving more daily emotional support positively related to greater psychological well-being; whereas problem-oriented emotional support negatively related to some aspects of psychological well-being. People receiving more social companionship turned out to be less depressed.
The assumption was confirmed that social support has a major effect on psychological well-being. A buffering effect of social support was not demonstrated.