An investigation of the relationship between social support, stress and general psychological wellbeing among Irish adults

Abstract

The present study employed a correlational design to test the relationship between the measured variables of; available social support, stress, general psychological wellbeing, among a convenience sample of Irish adults (n = 28 males and n = 60 females), who participated voluntarily. The results indicated statistically significant correlations between; satisfaction with social support and stress (tau_b = -0.166, p< 0.05, 1 tailed), available social support and general psychological wellbeing (tau_b 0.167, p< 0.05, 1 tailed), and satisfaction with social support and general psychological wellbeing, (tau_b = 0.261, p< 0.01, 1 tailed), No statistically significant correlation was found to exist between available social support and stress (p >0.05). Additionally an independent samples design was employed to test for differences in the dependent variables of available social support, and satisfaction with social support for the independent variables of, active church membership, group/society membership, and the measured variable of gender. In all cases tested, no statistically significant results were observed.