Who gives what to managers? Receiving social support and the matching hypothesis

The matching hypothesis suggests that contextual variables influence the effectiveness of social support received. This study examines the effect of recipient sex, stressor controllability, the social nature of the stressor, stressor domain (work or non-work), and source of support on the social support received by 440 managers. Some evidence is found for support matching. Emotional support is more effective for social stressors, whereas tangible assistance is more effective for nonsocial stressors. Similarly, work supporters provide the most effective tangible assistance for work stressors, but non-work supporters provide the most effective assistance for non-work stressors. For work stressors, superiors provide effective information and emotional support, whereas subordinates provide effective tangible assistance. However, the sex of the support recipient and the controllability of the stressor do not influence support receipt.