Ritika has been unwell for a long period of time and hence she has missed a lot of classes. When she shared this with her friend, her friend helped her with all the necessary notes. Identify the kind of social support offered by her friend.

Tangible support

The correct answer is Option (2) → Tangible support

Ritika’s friend helped her by giving necessary notes so that she could catch up with missed classes. This is a direct, practical form of help — which is called tangible support.

"Social support may be in the form of tangible support or assistance involving material aid, such as money, goods, services, etc. For example, a child gives notes to her/his friend, since s/he was absent from school due to sickness. Family and friends also provide informational support about stressful events. For example, a student facing a stressful event such as a difficult board examination, if provided information by a friend who has faced a similar one, would not only be able to identify the exact procedures involved, but also it would facilitate in determining what resources and coping strategies could be useful to successfully pass the examination. During times of stress, one may experience sadness, anxiety, and loss of self-esteem. Supportive friends and family provide emotional support by reassuring the individual that she/he is loved, valued, and cared for. Research has demonstrated that social support effectively reduces psychological distress such as depression or anxiety, during times of stress. There is growing evidence that social support is positively related to psychological well-being. Generally, social support leads to mental health benefits for both the giver and the receiver.".