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3 Direct, Indirect, and Moderating Effects of Social Support on Psychological Distress and Associated Conditions* R. JAY TURNER INTRODUCTION A substantial convergence is observable in research findings produced in psychiatric sociology and epidemiology and those from the broader fields of medical ecology and social epidemiology. Collectively, this evidence strongly supports the assumption that the nature of the social environment is significant for health and emotional well-being. Numerous studies on the occurrence and prevalence of psychiatric distress and disorders and on a wide range of somatic diseases have reported associations with such factors as low socioeconomic status, geographic* I acknowledge with gratitude the assistance and criticisms of my colleagues Gail Frankel, Samuel Noh, and Mark Speechley. PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESS 105 Copyright© 1983 by Academic Press, Inc. All rights of …