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. 2015 Feb 1:1:22-28.
doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2014.11.001.

Thriving through relationships

Brooke C Feeney  1 , Nancy L Collins  2
Affiliations

Thriving through relationships

Brooke C Feeney et al. Curr Opin Psychol. .

Abstract

The specific pathways through which close relationships promote optimal well-being are not well understood. We describe a model (building on attachment theory's notion of safe haven and secure base support) that explains how close relationships promote thriving. This model defines thriving, identifies distinct contexts through which individuals may thrive (life adversity and life opportunities for growth), describes two distinct social support functions in close relationships that promote thriving (source of strength support and relational catalyst support), and identifies mediators through which relational support leads to long-term thriving.

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Figure 1
Figure 1
Theoretical model of thriving through relationships. Adapted from Feeney and Collins [1••].
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References

    1. Feeney BC, Collins NL. A new look at social support: a theoretical perspective on thriving through relationships. Personal Soc Psychol Rev. 2014 http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1088868314544222. This original theory paper (on which the current article is based) provides an elaborated theoretical account of how individuals thrive through relationships. The goal of this manuscript was to present a theoretical perspective on thriving through relationships that highlights the importance of relational support in both adverse and non-adverse contexts. In doing so, we propose that researchers take a new look at social support and conceptualize it as an interpersonal process with the promotion of thriving as the ultimate objective. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
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