Experimental paradigm to test the effects of providing social support: study protocol of the PROSPECT trial (Study 2)
Experimental paradigm to test the effects of providing social support: study protocol of the PROSPECT trial (Study 2)
StatusVoR
Alternative title
Authors
Hajak, Vivien
Grimm, Simone
Gruszczyńska, Ewa
Kroemeke, Aleksandra
Józefacka, Natalia
Warner, Lisa Marie
Monograph
Monograph (alternative title)
Date
2025-01-27
Publisher
Journal title
BMC Psychology
Issue
1
Volume
13
Pages
Pages
1-20
ISSN
2050-7283
ISSN of series
Access date
2025-01-27
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
Background
A growing body of research suggests that the provision of social support can have benefits not only for the recipients but also for the provider. Although initial evidence for affective, self-evaluative and physiological outcomes has been established, the beneficial effects of support provision do not occur consistently across all support interactions, and some interactions may even have detrimental effects on providers. The aim of our experimental paradigm is to enable researchers to test the conditions under which the provision of social support to dyadic partners affects affective, self-evaluative, physiological, and relationship outcomes for the provider. In line with self-determination theory, it is proposed that the provision of support is only beneficial to the provider if it satisfies the three basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness. The paradigm allows for the manipulation of the provider's levels of competence (feedback on the effectiveness of their support to the other person) and relatedness (feedback on the alleged level of relatedness perceived by the partner person following the provision of support).
Methods
A priori power analyses resulted in a planned sample size of 250 participants randomized to four conditions: 1) no support provision, 2) support provision without feedback, 3) support provision with feedback on competence, 4) support provision with feedback on relatedness. Primary outcomes are immediate physiological (saliva cortisol, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure), affective (positive and negative affect, anxiety), self-evaluative (e.g., self-esteem) and relationship outcomes. Generalized linear models will be used to compare the four conditions.
Discussion
In a controlled laboratory experiment, this new experimental paradigm manipulates the conditions under which social support is provided. Insights into the conditions under which the provision of social support is detrimental or beneficial to the provider can inform the development of preventive and interventional approaches across a range of life domains, motivational and developmental research across the lifespan (e.g. prevention of care-giver burnout), and applied clinical contexts (e.g. therapeutic interventions).
Abstract other
Keywords PL
Keywords EN
Support provision
Helping
Prosocial behaviour
Self-determination theory
Affect
Cortisol
Blood pressure
Heart rate
Empathy
Helping
Prosocial behaviour
Self-determination theory
Affect
Cortisol
Blood pressure
Heart rate
Empathy
Keywords other
Exhibition title
Place of exhibition (institution)
Exhibition curator
Type
License type
Funder
Time range from
Time range to
Contact person name
Related publication
Related publication
Grant/project name
Udzielanie wsparcia społecznego a zdrowie: warunki i dynamika temporalna
Collections
Views
4Acquisition Date13.03.2025
Downloads
9Acquisition Date13.03.2025
Altmetrics©
Dimensions
Google Scholar
