ABSTRACT
E v e r y i n d i v i d u a l is e m b e d d e d i n a social context that shapes personal experience and affects i n d i v i d u a l w e l l - b e i n g . N o t only does this context serve as the source of both posit ive and negative events, but it also influences h o w the i n d i v i d u a l w i l l respond to them. A t the same t ime, however , i n d i v i d u a l characteristics and competencies themselves have an impact on one's social m i l i e u . Psychological style and interpersonal skills he lp determine the nature and amount of support available f rom one's social network and h o w effectively they are u t i l i z e d .
