What is the role of social support in maintaining mental wellbeing?

• A. Provides emotional, informational, and practical help; buffers stress and enhances resilience.
• B. It worsens mental health.
• C. It has no effect.
• D. It is only for family members.

Answer: (B)

Social support helps mental wellbeing by providing emotional comfort, information, and practical help that together reduce the impact of stress and boost resilience. When someone faces difficulties, having someone to talk to can calm anxious feelings, validate what you’re going through, and strengthen your sense of self-worth. Informational support—practical advice, guidance, or resources—helps you understand the situation and figure out effective ways to cope, which increases your confidence that the problem can be managed. Practical help with daily tasks or responsibilities lightens burdens, making burdensome situations feel more controllable.

This combination not only makes stress feel less overwhelming but also supports adaptive coping, which lowers the risk of mental health problems and supports ongoing wellbeing. Beyond reducing distress, social connections foster a sense of belonging and reduce isolation, both of which are protective for mental health. Conversely, the idea that social support worsens mental health, has no effect, or is limited only to family members doesn’t align with how broad and beneficial these networks can be in real life.