Social support tends to decrease the effects of stress.
Social support is the feeling that someone cares for us, that in case of need there will be a helping hand and the general feeling that we are part of a supportive social network. There are four types of social support: emotional, instrumental, informational and appraisal.
It is believed that all the different aspects of social support can have a beneficial effect on stress. Through social support, people can communicate their fears and problems, receive another point of view on them and possibly find some solutions.