Social Networks, Congruence in Desired and Received Social Support, Coping and Health of Women

The present investigation had explored the available social networks, congruence/discrepancies in desired and received social support in coping with stressors and health. A total of 180 married women (aged 20-60 years) residents of Gorakhpur city had participated in the study. Amongst them 90 were employed in banks, schools and railways and 90 were Homemakers. Social networks, social support, coping and health were assessed by standardized tools. The best social networks expressed by both groups of women were parents, and friends, followed by, siblings and husband. The discrepancy in desired and received social support and employment status had significant effect in applying active coping strategies, however, in the use of adaptive coping strategies both of these had interactive effect. Similarly, the physical health was affected by the interaction of employment status and discrepancy in desired and received social support, whereas, for psychological health the effect of discrepancy in social support was observed. The results were discussed in terms of their applicability to understand stress occurred in women's life and how the social support influences coping and health.