Page No :476-485
Akansha Pandey
University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Supriya Chaturvedi
Avadh Girls’ Degree College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
This paper reviews and attempts to synthesize the existing literature on the role that
social support plays in promoting psychological well-being during times of crisis. The
present study adopts a narrative review method. The evidence indicated that social
support plays an important role in sometimes promoting as well as maintaining the
overall well–being and also reducing the negative states of stress, anxiety etc. The
perception of the support being available, reachable, and accountable rather than the
actual received support also plays a critical role in determining the actual effectiveness
of support. Various factors also play a significant role in determining the experience
and effectiveness of the support that is provided and received. This paper also highlights
that sometimes, mismatched or negative social interaction can also lead to amplifying
the distress. The research gaps that are identified includes methodological challenges
and limited longitudinal data. This review further concludes with future directions for
future researchers highlighting the need for a culturally sensitive, mechanism-focused,
and intervention-driven approach to promote resilience and psychological well-being in
crisis contexts.