Social support imbalance and depressive symptoms in young adolescents: the negative effect of giving but not receiving

This study examined associations between receiving and giving support, and their imbalance on depression symptoms in adolescents. Our sample included 2,111 young adolescents drawn from 6th Wave European Social Survey who completed measures of social support and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D). A hierarchical linear regression demonstrated that both receiving and giving social support were associated with a 51% and 34% reduced risk of being depressed, respectively. However, analysis of group differences indicated those high on both giving/receiving, that is, a positive balance, reported less depression, compared to those with a negative balance, that is, low on both, with the highest symptoms observed by those reporting a negative imbalance, that is, high giving and low receiving social support. While there are benefits to receiving and giving social support, there is also a cost when this is imbalanced. Our findings are discussed from an equity theory and lifespan perspective.