Thesis

elationships then has a beneficial effect on our immune system (Argyle, 1992, in Bradley &
Cartwright, 2002). Looking at the indirect model of social support, Bradley & Cartwright
(2002) explained it as social support being a conditioning factor influencing the association
between health and stressors. The field within social support has frequently been discussing if
the association between social support and health can be best clarified by the direct model or
the indirect model. Thus, whether social support has an effect on health only when a person is
under stress or whether social support has an effect on health irrespectively of a person’s
stress levels continues to be a relevant topic in the field of social support and health.
Viswesvaran, Sanchez & Fisher (1999) conducted a research to look at the relationship
between health and social support in relation to the two different models, and they found
evidence which supported the positive effects of both the direct and indirect model of social
support.
According to Parikh et al. (2004) variables which are outside a nurse’s working place, like for
example family life, have an effect on the nurse’s experienced level of stress at her workplace.
It has been shown that the connection between a nurse’s obligations at her work place and her
family life most of the time worsen the nurse’s occupational stress levels. Parikh et al. (op.
cit.) conducted a research in nurses which showed that the most important factor contributing
to work related stress was incompatible demands between the nurse’s family life and working
life, and a pressure of being able to perform ones best in both fields.
2.9.2. Burnout and Social support
Demir et al. (2003) looked into the area of burnout in association with social support from
ones family. They found that the level of depersonalization was low for those nurses who
received support from family members while doing household work. When it comes to
personal accomplishment, the researchers showed that the nurses who received support from a
husband or a child had the highest levels of personal accomplishment. However, it was also
shown that the nurses who receive social support from close relatives scored lower on
personal accomplishment in comparison to those nurses who did not receive any social
support at all. Thus, it seems that close relatives may have a negative effect on these nurses’
lives. Regarding emotional exhaustion, the nurses who felt that it was difficult for them to do
household work had higher levels of emotional exhaustion.