The Effects of Giving and Receiving Social Support on Improvement of Health Behavior and Subjective Well-being

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of giving and receiving support on self-efficacy and health behaviors. Methods: Participants: 50 healthy college students. Measures:Giving and Receiving Emotional / Instrumental support Scale. Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale. General Health Questionnaire. Life Style Questionnaire Procedures: Participants were randomly assigned to two groups (the providing support group and the receiving group).Participants of providing support group were instructed to make a program for improvement of their peer’s health behavior and to act as a peer coach (60min-5sessions). The receiving group had 5 traditional health education. Results and Discussion: The result showed that the improvement of health behavior in the providing support group were superior to the receiving group. And the providing support group demonstrated significantly higher scores on Generalized Self-Efficacy. They suggest that providing support could increase not only their knowledge in their life style problem but also positive motivation for health behavior.