Social support, as one of the most effective coping means for individuals in stressful situations,
has an important impact on their physical and mental health. Individuals influenced by different cultures
have certain differences in their behavior when they need social support. This paper will discuss the
cultural differences between collectivism and individualism, as well as the differences in social support
seeking, motivation seeking, sources and influence on intimate relationships brought about by these two
cultural differences. Collectivist culture is a kind of implicit culture in which individuals are willing to
sacrifice for the great collective interests. When faced with pressure, individuals often do not explicitly
seek help from others and prefer implicit and passive social support. Individualism culture is a kind of
culture that puts personal interests first and individuals are willing to actively pursue personal interests.
When faced with pressure, individuals will take the initiative to seek help from the outside world, and
individuals prefer explicit and active social support.