The article explores the discrepancy between the perceived availability of support and its actual receipt, suggesting that the most effective support transactions are often unnoticed by the recipient. Using data from a daily diary study of couples, the authors found that many support transactions reported by providers are not acknowledged by recipients. They also demonstrated that invisible support transactions, where the provider's actions are not perceived by the recipient, promote better adjustment to a major stressor, the New York State Bar Examination. The study highlights the importance of invisible support in reducing distress and suggests that traditional measures of support receipt may not capture the full benefits of social support. The authors propose that the perception of support availability is beneficial, but the actual receipt of support can have negative consequences, such as increased self-esteem costs. The findings have implications for understanding the complex dynamics of social support and suggest that future research should focus on invisible support and its potential benefits.The article explores the discrepancy between the perceived availability of support and its actual receipt, suggesting that the most effective support transactions are often unnoticed by the recipient. Using data from a daily diary study of couples, the authors found that many support transactions reported by providers are not acknowledged by recipients. They also demonstrated that invisible support transactions, where the provider's actions are not perceived by the recipient, promote better adjustment to a major stressor, the New York State Bar Examination. The study highlights the importance of invisible support in reducing distress and suggests that traditional measures of support receipt may not capture the full benefits of social support. The authors propose that the perception of support availability is beneficial, but the actual receipt of support can have negative consequences, such as increased self-esteem costs. The findings have implications for understanding the complex dynamics of social support and suggest that future research should focus on invisible support and its potential benefits.