Personal goals and interpersonal support and hindrance as factors in psychological distress and well-being

J Pers Soc Psychol. 1988 Aug;55(2):293-301. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.55.2.293.

Abstract

This study examined psychological distress and well-being as a function of the characteristics of personal projects and project-relevant social support and social hindrance provided by the three most important people in subjects' lives. Three project factors (Project Mastery, Strain, and Self-Involvement) were found to account for significant variation in both psychological distress and well-being. Project support was generally found to be significantly related to well-being, but not to distress. However, project hindrance was found to be significantly related to both distress and well-being. Additional analyses revealed that the behavior of the most important person in a subject's life is of special significance in accounting for variations in psychological distress and well-being. Finally, evidence of the independence of support and hindrance was observed.

MeSH terms

  • Achievement
  • Adult
  • Affective Symptoms / psychology*
  • Female
  • Goals*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Object Attachment
  • Social Adjustment*
  • Social Environment*
  • Social Support*
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology