(ROOT (S (SBAR (IN Since) (S (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBP are) (NP (JJ social) (NNS beings))))) (, ,) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN quality)) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP$ our) (NNS lives)))) (VP (VBZ depends) (PP (IN in) (NP (JJ large) (NN measure))) (PP (IN on) (NP (PRP$ our) (JJ interpersonal) (NNS relationships)))) (. .)))
Since we are social beings, the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal relationships.
mark
since
Since
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
amod
Degree=Pos
social
social
ADJ
JJ
advcl
Number=Plur
being
beings
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
quality
quality
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
nmod
Number=Plur
life
lives
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
depend
depends
VERB
VBZ
case
in
in
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
large
large
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
measure
measure
NOUN
NN
case
on
on
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
interpersonal
interpersonal
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
relationship
relationships
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (CD One) (NN strength)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (JJ human) (NN condition)))) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (PRP$ our) (NN tendency) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB give) (CC and) (VB receive) (NP (NN support)) (PP (IN from) (NP (CD one) (DT another))) (PP (IN under) (NP (JJ stressful) (NNS circumstances)))))))) (. .)))
One strength of the human condition is our tendency to give and receive support from one another under stressful circumstances.
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
One
NUM
CD
nsubj
Number=Sing
strength
strength
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
human
human
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
condition
condition
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
root
Number=Sing
tendency
tendency
NOUN
NN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
acl
VerbForm=Inf
give
give
VERB
VB
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Inf
receive
receive
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing
support
support
NOUN
NN
case
from
from
ADP
IN
obl
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
one
NUM
CD
fixed
another
another
DET
DT
case
under
under
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
stressful
stressful
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
circumstance
circumstances
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (JJ Social) (NN support)) (VP (VBZ consists) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN exchange)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS resources))) (PP (IN among) (NP (NP (NNS people)) (VP (VBN based) (PP (IN on) (NP (PRP$ their) (JJ interpersonal) (NNS ties))))))))) (. .)))
Social support consists of the exchange of resources among people based on their interpersonal ties.
amod
Degree=Pos
Social
Social
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Sing
support
support
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
consist
consists
VERB
VBZ
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
exchange
exchange
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
resource
resources
NOUN
NNS
case
among
among
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
acl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
base
based
VERB
VBN
case
on
on
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
interpersonal
interpersonal
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
tie
ties
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT Those)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (PRP us)) (PP (IN with) (NP (JJ strong) (NN support) (NNS systems)))))) (VP (VBP appear) (S (ADJP (RBR better) (JJ able) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB deal) (PP (IN with) (NP (NP (JJ major) (NN life) (NNS changes)) (CC and) (NP (JJ daily) (NNS difficulties)))))))))) (. .)))
Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to deal with major life changes and daily difficulties.
nsubj
Number=Plur|PronType=Dem
that
Those
PRON
DT
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
case
with
with
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
strong
strong
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
support
support
NOUN
NN
nmod
Number=Plur
system
systems
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
appear
appear
VERB
VBP
advmod
Degree=Cmp
well
better
ADV
RBR
xcomp
Degree=Pos
able
able
ADJ
JJ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
deal
deal
VERB
VB
case
with
with
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
major
major
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
life
life
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Plur
change
changes
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
amod
Degree=Pos
daily
daily
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Plur
difficulty
difficulties
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNS People)) (PP (IN with) (NP (JJ strong) (JJ social) (NNS ties)))) (VP (VP (VBP live) (ADVP (RBR longer))) (CC and) (VP (VBP have) (NP (NP (JJR better) (NN health)) (PP (IN than) (NP (NP (DT those)) (PP (IN without) (NP (JJ such) (NNS ties)))))))) (. .)))
People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties.
nsubj
Number=Plur
person
People
NOUN
NNS
case
with
with
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
strong
strong
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
social
social
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
tie
ties
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
live
live
VERB
VBP
advmod
Degree=Cmp
long
longer
ADV
RBR
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
have
VERB
VBP
amod
Degree=Cmp
good
better
ADJ
JJR
obj
Number=Sing
health
health
NOUN
NN
case
than
than
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur|PronType=Dem
that
those
PRON
DT
case
without
without
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
such
such
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
tie
ties
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (NP (NNS Studies)) (PP (IN over) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN range)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NNS illnesses)) (, ,) (PP (PP (IN from) (NP (NN depression))) (PP (IN to) (NP (NN heart) (NN disease)))) (, ,)))))) (VP (VBP show) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NP (DT the) (NN presence)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ social) (NN support)))) (VP (VBZ helps) (S (NP (NNS people)) (VP (VB protect) (NP (PRP themselves)) (PP (IN from) (NP (NN illness)))))))))) (, ,) (CC and) (S (NP (NP (DT the) (NN absence)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ such) (NN support)))) (VP (VBZ makes) (S (NP (JJ poor) (NN health)) (ADJP (RBR more) (JJ likely))))) (. .)))
Studies over a range of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, show that the presence of social support helps people protect themselves from illness, and the absence of such support makes poor health more likely.
nsubj
Number=Plur
Study
Studies
NOUN
NNS
case
over
over
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
range
range
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
illness
illnesses
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
case
from
from
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
depression
depression
NOUN
NN
case
to
to
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
heart
heart
NOUN
NN
nmod
Number=Sing
disease
disease
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
show
show
VERB
VBP
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
presence
presence
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
social
social
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
support
support
NOUN
NN
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
help
helps
VERB
VBZ
obj
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
protect
protect
VERB
VB
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes
themselves
themselves
PRON
PRP
case
from
from
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
illness
illness
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
absence
absence
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
such
such
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
support
support
NOUN
NN
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
make
makes
VERB
VBZ
amod
Degree=Pos
poor
poor
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
health
health
NOUN
NN
advmod
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADV
RBR
xcomp
Degree=Pos
likely
likely
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NML (JJ Social) (NN support)) (NNS cushions)) (VP (VBP stress) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN number)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS ways)))))) (. .)))
Social support cushions stress in a number of ways.
amod
Degree=Pos
Social
Social
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
support
support
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Number=Plur
cushion
cushions
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
stress
stress
VERB
VBP
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
number
number
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
way
ways
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB First)) (, ,) (NP (NNS friends) (, ,) (NNS relatives) (CC and) (NNS coworkers)) (VP (MD may) (VP (VB let) (S (NP (PRP us)) (VP (VB know) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP value) (NP (PRP us))))))))) (. .)))
First, friends, relatives and coworkers may let us know that they value us.
advmod
NumType=Ord
first
First
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Number=Plur
friend
friends
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
conj
Number=Plur
relative
relatives
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Plur
coworker
coworkers
NOUN
NNS
aux
VerbForm=Fin
may
may
AUX
MD
root
VerbForm=Inf
let
let
VERB
VB
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
know
know
VERB
VB
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
value
value
VERB
VBP
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP$ Our) (NN self) (NN respect)) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN strengthened) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB when)) (S (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBP feel) (VP (VBN accepted) (PP (IN by) (NP (NNS others)))) (PP (IN despite) (NP (PRP$ our) (NNS faults) (CC and) (NNS difficulties)))))))) (. .)))
Our self respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others despite our faults and difficulties.
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
Our
PRON
PRP$
compound
Number=Sing
self
self
NOUN
NN
nsubj:pass
Number=Sing
respect
respect
NOUN
NN
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
strengthen
strengthened
VERB
VBN
advmod
PronType=Int
when
when
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
feel
feel
VERB
VBP
xcomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
accept
accepted
VERB
VBN
case
by
by
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
other
others
NOUN
NNS
case
despite
despite
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
obl
Number=Plur
fault
faults
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Plur
difficulty
difficulties
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Second)) (, ,) (NP (JJ other) (NNS people)) (ADVP (RB often)) (VP (VBP provide) (NP (PRP us)) (PP (IN with) (NP (JJ informational) (NN support)))) (. .)))
Second, other people often provide us with informational support.
advmod
NumType=Ord
second
Second
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
amod
Degree=Pos
other
other
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
advmod
often
often
ADV
RB
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
provide
provide
VERB
VBP
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
case
with
with
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
informational
informational
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
support
support
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP They)) (VP (VBP help) (NP (PRP us)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VP (VB explain) (CC and) (VB understand) (NP (PRP$ our) (NNS problems))) (CC and) (VP (VB find) (NP (NNS solutions)) (PP (IN to) (NP (PRP them)))))))) (. .)))
They help us to explain and understand our problems and find solutions to them.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
They
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
help
help
VERB
VBP
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
explain
explain
VERB
VB
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Inf
understand
understand
VERB
VB
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Plur
problem
problems
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Inf
find
find
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Plur
solution
solutions
NOUN
NNS
case
to
to
ADP
IN
obl
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
them
PRON
PRP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Third)) (, ,) (NP (PRP we)) (ADVP (RB typically)) (VP (VBP find) (S (NP (JJ social) (NN companionship)) (ADJP (JJ supportive)))) (. .)))
Third, we typically find social companionship supportive.
advmod
NumType=Ord
third
Third
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
advmod
typically
typically
ADV
RB
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
find
find
VERB
VBP
amod
Degree=Pos
social
social
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
companionship
companionship
NOUN
NN
xcomp
Degree=Pos
supportive
supportive
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (VP (VBG Engaging) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (NML (NN leisure) (NN time)) (NNS activities)) (PP (IN with) (NP (NNS others))))))) (VP (VBZ helps) (S (NP (PRP us)) (VP (TO to) (VP (VB meet) (NP (PRP$ our) (JJ social) (NNS needs)) (SBAR (IN while) (S (PP (IN at) (NP (DT the) (JJ same) (NN time))) (VP (VB distract) (-LRB- -LRB-) (, ...) (-RRB- -RRB-) (NP (PRP us)) (PP (IN from) (NP (PRP$ our) (NNS worries) (CC and) (NNS troubles)))))))))) (. .)))
Engaging in leisure time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distract (...) us from our worries and troubles.
csubj
VerbForm=Ger
engage
Engaging
VERB
VBG
case
in
in
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
leisure
leisure
NOUN
NN
compound
Number=Sing
time
time
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Plur
activity
activities
NOUN
NNS
case
with
with
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
other
others
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
help
helps
VERB
VBZ
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
meet
meet
VERB
VB
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
social
social
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Plur
need
needs
NOUN
NNS
mark
while
while
SCONJ
IN
case
at
at
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
same
same
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
time
time
NOUN
NN
advcl
VerbForm=Inf
distract
distract
VERB
VB
punct
(
(
PUNCT
-LRB-
punct
...
...
PUNCT
,
punct
)
)
PUNCT
-RRB-
parataxis
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
case
from
from
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
nmod
Number=Plur
worry
worries
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Plur
trouble
troubles
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Finally)) (, ,) (NP (JJ other) (NNS people)) (VP (MD may) (VP (VB give) (NP (PRP us)) (NP (NP (NP (JJ important) (NN support)) (, --) (NP (NP (JJ financial) (NN aid)) (, ,) (NP (NN material) (NNS resources)) (, ,) (CC and) (NP (VBN needed) (NNS services))) (, --)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBZ reduces) (NP (NN stress)) (PP (IN by) (S (VP (VBG helping) (S (NP (PRP us)) (VP (VB solve) (CC and) (VB deal) (PP (IN with)) (NP (PRP$ our) (NNS problems))))))))))))) (. .)))
Finally, other people may give us important support--financial aid, material resources, and needed services--that reduces stress by helping us solve and deal with our problems.
advmod
finally
Finally
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
amod
Degree=Pos
other
other
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
aux
VerbForm=Fin
may
may
AUX
MD
root
VerbForm=Inf
give
give
VERB
VB
iobj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
amod
Degree=Pos
important
important
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
support
support
NOUN
NN
punct
--
--
PUNCT
,
amod
Degree=Pos
financial
financial
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Sing
aid
aid
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
compound
Number=Sing
material
material
NOUN
NN
conj
Number=Plur
resource
resources
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
amod
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
need
needed
VERB
VBN
conj
Number=Plur
service
services
NOUN
NNS
punct
--
--
PUNCT
,
nsubj
PronType=Rel
that
that
PRON
WDT
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
reduce
reduces
VERB
VBZ
obj
Number=Sing
stress
stress
NOUN
NN
mark
by
by
SCONJ
IN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
help
helping
VERB
VBG
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
solve
solve
VERB
VB
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Inf
deal
deal
VERB
VB
case
with
with
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
obl
Number=Plur
problem
problems
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
Since we are social beings, the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal relationships. One strength of the human condition is our tendency to give and receive support from one another under stressful circumstances. Social support consists of the exchange of resources among people based on their interpersonal ties. Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to deal with major life changes and daily difficulties. People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties. Studies over a range of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, show that the presence of social support helps people protect themselves from illness, and the absence of such support makes poor health more likely.  Social support cushions stress in a number of ways. First, friends, relatives and coworkers may let us know that they value us. Our self respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others despite our faults and difficulties. Second, other people often provide us with informational support. They help us to explain and understand our problems and find solutions to them. Third, we typically find social companionship supportive. Engaging in leisure time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distract (...) us from our worries and troubles. Finally, other people may give us important support--financial aid, material resources, and needed services--that reduces stress by helping us solve and deal with our problems.