What Type of Social Support Do You Need? Take This Quiz

If you're like me, you probably know your love language, social style, and Myers-Briggs personality type—but do you know what type of social support matters most to you?

I have friends who have hurt me by not having anything positive or encouraging to say about my work, but I know I can rely on them when I need tangible help. Likewise, I have loved ones I could never cry in front of, expecting to be soothed, but I can turn to them when I need solid advice.

This taught me something crucial: identifying what type of support you need in any given moment—and recognizing what type the people around you can actually offer—can transform your relationships. This understanding not only saves relationships but also increases your satisfaction with them. It helps you determine who you need closest to you and appreciate the unique support others are able to give.

After writing and speaking about how we can build trustworthy, safe, and supportive relationships, I created this short quiz to help you discover what type of social support matters most to you right now. 

Watch: The 5 Different Types of Social Support Explained

Before you take the quiz, watch this quick video breakdown of the different types of social support—emotional, esteem, social network, informational, and tangible support—and how they show up in daily life.

Take the Quiz: Discover What Type of Social Support Matters Most to You

Taking this quiz will not only improve your relationships but also your health. According to “Health Promotion in Health Care – Vital Theories and Research,” published by the National Library of Medicine, social support strongly affects our physical and mental health, significantly impacting our “psychological distress, quality of life, loneliness, burden of care, as well as anxiety, depression, hope, meaning, self-transcendence, and mortality risk.”

Understanding your social support preferences will help you communicate your needs more clearly and foster relationships that make you feel truly cared for. 

The Social Support Type Quiz

Instructions:

Choose the answer that best reflects what matters most to you when you need support.

Questions:

1. When you’re going through a hard time emotionally, what matters most to you?

A) Someone who listens without judgment and offers empathy—so I feel emotionally seen and understood.

B) Someone who reminds me I have what it takes to achieve my goals and believes in me.

C) Being with a group of people who check in, include me, and help me feel connected rather than alone.

D) Someone who gives me useful advice to solve the problem.

E) Someone who offers practical or material help—such as assistance with responsibilities or financial support—to help ease the immediate burden.

2. If you had to pick one comfort, what would it be?

A) A heart-to-heart conversation.

B) Words of encouragement and praise.

C) A get-together with friends who care.

D) Tips, ideas, or knowledge that help me understand my situation.

E) Someone helping me with chores, errands, or errands.

3. What makes you feel most supported in a community?

A) People who empathize—they feel what I feel.

B) People who remind me of my strengths.

C) People who make me feel like I belong.

D) People who share insights and information that guide me.

E) People who do practical things to help me out.

4. When you’re stressed, what helps you unwind?

A) A warm, caring, and consoling conversation.

B) Someone reminding me of how capable I am and how much I've overcome.

C) Hanging out with my friends or a supportive group.

D) Getting information that helps me see my next step.

E) Someone helping me with concrete tasks so I don’t feel overloaded.

5. Which scenario feels most hurtful to you?

A. Someone notices I'm in tears and chooses to ignore my pain.

B. Someone notices I’ve reached a major milestone but offers no encouraging or congratulatory words.

C. I'm struggling, and no one checks in or includes me—I feel invisible and alone.

D. I'm facing a difficult situation and feel unsure, unclear, or confused about how to navigate it, but no one offers guidance or insight.

E. I'm overwhelmed with daily responsibilities or financial strain, and no one offers practical or material help to ease the burden.

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📊 How to Score Your Quiz

👉 For each letter you choose, tally up your answers:

Mostly A’s → Emotional Support

You value comfort, empathy, and someone simply being there with you.

Mostly B’s → Esteem Support

You thrive when people help you feel confident, capable, and valued.

Mostly C’s → Social Network Support

You feel strongest when you’re connected, included, and part of a supportive community.

Mostly D’s → Informational Support

You feel most supported when you get guidance, clarity, or knowledge.

Mostly E’s → Tangible Support

Practical help — like tasks, services, or physical aid — is what matters most to you.

Understanding Your Results

While we all need every type of support—and our needs shift with life's circumstances—we each have preferences, just like with love languages. Your quiz results reveal which type of social support resonates most deeply with you right now.

If You Value Emotional Support Most

You feel most supported when someone is fully present with you and consoles you—they listen deeply without trying to rush you and respond with empathy and acts of comfort. 

How to Ask for Emotional Support

Don't be afraid to ask for that hug when you've had a bad day. Tell your friend or loved one that you need their full, undivided attention as you vent, and make it clear you're looking for a listening and sympathetic ear. 

Warning Sign

If you don't experience much vulnerability in any of your relationships, that's a sign you're lacking the emotional support you need in your life. 

If You Value Esteem Support Most

You thrive in relationships where people believe in you, encourage you, affirm what you have accomplished, and remind you of what you have to offer when you're feeling down. 

How to Ask for Esteem Support 

Although words of affirmation are more meaningful when they're unsolicited, don't hesitate to ask those who believe in you what they liked about your work or project. Let them know you'd appreciate their encouragement as you pursue your goals.

Warning Sign

If you feel like you constantly have to ask or fish for compliments and encouragement, that signals a void in your life where esteem support is concerned. 

If You Value Social Network Support Most

You feel most supported when you’re included, remembered, and connected. Knowing that you belong to a group, community, or network brings you strength, especially in difficult times.

How to Ask for Social Network Support 

Create a community of like-minded people who share your passions, hobbies, or values. Reach out to friends and ask if they know anyone you'd hit it off with—great connections can come through mutual friends. 

Warning Sign

If you often feel lonely and isolated, it may be time to look for a community or create your own. 

If You Value Informational Support Most

You feel most supported when your network gives you useful advice and helpful information to solve problems, especially when you feel confused or uncertain about your next steps. 

How to Ask for Informational Support 

Reach out to people who have expertise in areas where you need clarity and ask for their guidance. Be specific about what you're struggling with so they can give you targeted advice. 

Important: Make sure to actually ask for advice first. Unsolicited advice—no matter how well-intentioned—often comes across as condescending, dismissive, or arrogant, implying that you haven't already considered solutions or don't know what you're doing.

Warning Sign

If you frequently feel stuck or overwhelmed without knowing where to turn for answers, you may need to build stronger connections with knowledgeable mentors or advisors in your life.

If You Value Tangible Support Most

You most appreciate practical help—concrete assistance with tasks, responsibilities, and material aid that eases the burden of everyday stress. 

How to Ask for Tangible Support 

Ask for that favor you need from loved ones who are capable of and in a position to provide assistance. Be specific about what would help you most, whether it's a ride, a meal, or babysitting.  

Warning Sign

If you're constantly overwhelmed by practical responsibilities with no one offering to help—or people denying your requests even when you do ask—you're missing crucial tangible support in your life. It may be time to build a network of people you can rely on and be willing to reciprocate when they need help, too.

Pro Tip: Ask for What You Need, Not What They Want

My mom has corrected my siblings and me many times: "Don't ask me if I want to do something—ask me if I will." We all knew she would help, even if it wasn't the most enjoyable task. 

This taught me an important lesson about asking for support: people may not naturally want to do certain things, but they will if they know it's what you truly need.

Instead of:

• "Would you want to listen to me vent?"

• "Do you want to give me a ride?"

Say:

• "I need someone to listen right now. Can I talk through what I'm going through with you?"

• "I need a ride at 3:00. Will you pick me up?"

When you clearly state what you need, you give people the opportunity to show up for you in meaningful ways—even outside their interests and comfort zone. That's what real friendship and family look like.

And remember: Now that you know what support means to you, pay attention to what the people in your life need too, and don't hesitate to offer it. 

Your Turn

So, what type of social support matters most to you? Share your quiz results in the comments below—I'd love to know if you were surprised and what resonated with you about your quiz results. And tell me: how will you use this insight to strengthen your relationships?

Want to Bring This to Your Community?

I'm available to speak and go deeper into the types of social support and how to build safer, stronger, and more supportive relationships. Email me at hello@radiancetalley.com to discuss booking a workshop or presentation for your organization or community.