Social support can be defined as a resource that meets needs. Cohen and McKay (1984) have emphasized that social support will be effective to the extent that the type of support offered meets specific needs. Hobfoll (1985) suggests that what will be supportive depends on the circumstances, the individual’s other resources, the time in the individual’s life, and the individual’s values and perceptions. Hobfoll et al. (1986, p. 302) explain that this fit is called ecological congruence, a term meant to emphasize the interrelated factors involved in stress resistance.