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First published on March 21, 2008, doi:10.1177/0146167208315157

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 2008;34:741.

A more recent version of this article appeared on June 1, 2008

Article

Is Perceived Emotional Support Beneficial? Well-Being and Health in Independent and Interdependent Cultures

Yukiko Uchida1*, Shinobu Kitayama2, Batja Mesquita3, Jose Alberto S. Reyes4, and Beth Morling5

1 Kyoto University
2 University of Michigan
3 University of Leuven
4 De La Salle University–Manila
5 University of Delaware

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: yukikou722{at}gmail.com.


  Abstract
Previous studies show there is little or no association between perceived emotional support and well-being in European American culture. The authors hypothesized that this paradoxical absence of any benefit of perceived support is unique to cultural contexts that privilege independence rather than interdependence of the self. Study 1 tested college students and found, as predicted, that among Euro-Americans a positive effect of perceived emotional support on subjective well-being (positive affect) was weak and, moreover, it disappeared entirely once self-esteem was statistically controlled. In contrast, among Asians in Asia (Japanese and Filipinos) perceived emotional support positively predicted subjective well-being even after self-esteem was controlled. Study 2 extended Study 1 by testing both Japanese and American adults in midlife with respect to multiple indicators of well-being and physical health. Overall, the evidence underscores the central significance of culture as a moderator of the effectiveness of perceived emotional support.


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