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Review
. 2019 Nov;14(6):941-966.
doi: 10.1177/1745691619861392. Epub 2019 Sep 18.

Social Ambivalence and Disease (SAD): A Theoretical Model Aimed at Understanding the Health Implications of Ambivalent Relationships

Julianne Holt-Lunstad  1 , Bert N Uchino  2
Affiliations
Review

Social Ambivalence and Disease (SAD): A Theoretical Model Aimed at Understanding the Health Implications of Ambivalent Relationships

Julianne Holt-Lunstad et al. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2019 Nov.

Abstract

The protective influence of social relationships on health is widely documented; however, not all relationships are positive, and negative aspects of relationships may be detrimental. Much less is known about the relationships characterized by both positivity and negativity (i.e., ambivalence). This article provides a theoretical framework for considering the influence of ambivalent relationships on physical health, including reasons why ambivalence should be considered separately from relationships characterized as primarily positive (supportive) or primarily negative (aversive). We introduce the social ambivalence and disease (SAD) model as a guide to understanding the social psychological antecedents, processes, and consequences of ambivalent relationships. We conclude by highlighting gaps in the literature and features of the SAD model that may serve as a guide to future research on potential health-relevant pathways of ambivalent relationships.

Keywords: ambivalence; health; psychophysiology; relationships; social support.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The author(s) declared that there were no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship or the publication of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Social ambivalence and disease (SAD) theoretical model of the health implications of ambivalent relationships.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Model of social relationships incorporating their positive and negative aspects (Uchino, Holt-Lunstad, Uno, & Flinders, 2001).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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