Differential Effects of Types of Momentary Social Support on Mood and Anxiety in Patients with Depression
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Social support is a multidimensional construct that includes emotional, esteem, and informational support, as well as instrumental support, referring to tangible assistance, and negative forms of support. While patients experience these types of support in their daily social interactions, the specific effects of momentary received support types on psychopathology remain understudied. Therefore, this study examined the effects of multiple types of social support on depressive mood and state social anxiety using high frequency Ecological Momentary Assessment. Methods: Data was collected from patients diagnosed with affective disorders and current moderate to severe depression, as well as from control participants (N = 68) using smartphone-based assessments over five consecutive days. Specifically, participants reported on social interaction characteristics, the type of received support, as well as their mood and anxiety levels based on six survey prompts per day. Results: Results indicated that receiving emotional support was associated with lower depressive mood, while esteem support was associated with lower depressive mood and state social anxiety. In contrast, informational support showed opposite effects. Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of social support in alleviating the core symptoms of clinical depression; with specific types of support being particularly beneficial. Thus, targeted application of social support types hold promise for interventions in depression.
Source: PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints)
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214517566