Although the findings indicated an unsatisfactory completion
of the paths, this study does provide an incremental
contribution to the explanation of effects of perceived social
support over the previous literature and suggest the better
explanation of perceived social support research using
adequate and specifying causal model for testing moderating
and mediating effect on coping. It is expected that differential
applicability of the causal models tested will provide a salient
contribution and challenge in studies of social support, family
stress and coping. Nevertheless, these findings are particularly
provocative for several reasons. First, they indicate that the
level of family stress appears to significantly influence the
relationship between perceived social support and coping.
Secondly, it would appear that there are some gender
differences in the influence of perceived social support on
coping.