ABSTRACT
The environment is the source of most human stresses and noxious influences. After two decades of enthusiastic research on the health consequences of adverse life events, with only a modest yield in useful knowledge, attention has now turned to the intuitively appealing notion that the social environment may contain some beneficial elements. The manner in which the social support hypothesis seems to have come about has been described elsewhere (Henderson, Byrne, & Duncan-Jones, 1981; Henderson, 1988, p. 98). In his essay, “On Friendship,” sixteenth century English writer Francis Bacon captured the issue with remarkable clarity, distinguishing between social interaction in the relief of distress and in the promotion of well-being. Bacon said:
“… this communicating of a man’s self to his friend works two contrary effects; for it redoubleth joys, and cutteth griefs in halfs. For there is no man that imparteth his joys to his friends, but he joyeth the more; and no man that imparteth his griefs to his friends, but he grieveth the less.”
