Abstract
Recent research suggests that social support is more beneficial when it is provided invisibly (subtly and without recipient awareness); however, what is still unknown is who is most likely to provide invisible support. The hypothesis that support providers exhibiting greater empathic accuracy are more likely to provide invisible support is tested in two studies of committed romantic couples: a month-long diary study in a highly stressful situation (Study 1, n = 311 couples) and an in-lab social observation study in which one member discusses a mildly stressful personal goal (Study 2, n = 85 couples). In Study 1, providers exhibiting greater empathic accuracy on a given day were more likely to provide invisible practical support the same day. In Study 2, providers’ empathic accuracy was positively associated with their provision of invisible practical support during the interaction (both coded by trained observers). Similar findings did not emerge for emotional support.
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