Age and Personality as Moderating the Relationship between Social Support and Mental Health

The present study was designed to find out the relationship between mental health and social support and moderating effect of age and personality. Mental Health Inventory (MHI; Khan, 2008), Provisions of Social Relations (Ayub, 2004) and translated Extrovert-Introvert subscale of Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R; Eysenck & Eysenck 1975) were used to explore the relationship. The research was carried out in two phases. Phase I was the translation of extrovert-Introvert subscale of Eysneck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R; Eysenck, 1975) into Urdu through priori (judgmental) approach. The pilot study was conducted to assess the psychometric properties of scales to be utilized. The Alpha reliability coefficients were .77, .75 and .75 respectively for the three scales, which was quite satisfactory. In the main study sample of 100 men and women was selected and sub divided into five age groups (n=20 in each group). Results showed that there is significant relationship between mental health and social support. It also indicated that there were significant relationship between mental health, Ext-Int personality trait and age. Moderating effect of Ext-Int personality trait is much stronger and significant than the age that seems to play non-significant role between mental health and social support. Effects of some demographic variables were also explored like gender.