Stress is a central dimension of the negative side of social ties (Cohen et al. 2004). Stress refers to life disruptions (e.g., discrete events such as divorce) and chronic strains (e.g., ongoing conflict in relationships) that challenge individuals’ coping capacities (Pearlin et al. 2005). Relationships with others—often thought of in terms of support and gratification—are often experienced by adults and young people alike as stressful (Repetti et al. 2002, Walen & Lachman 2000). Importantly, many studies document that stress, in turn, contributes to poor health habits in childhood, adolescence (Kassel et al. 2003, Stunkard et al. 2003), and adulthood (Kassel et al. 2003, Umberson et al. 2008).
