This study examined social support within the context of social interaction, looking at social support as a component of naturally occurring social interaction, exploring the amount of support reported as being actually received rather than the amount perceived as available, and analyzing the relationship between other components of social interaction (quality and intimacy) and social support. Seventy female and 54 male college freshmen completed a modified version of the Rochester Interaction Record on which they recorded any social interaction they had which lasted 10 minutes or longer for a period of 14 days. They reported the amount of social support they received, as well as the quality and intimacy of their interactions. The results showed that social support was moderately related to quality and intimacy. The findings suggest that various aspects of social interaction, although related, appear to be distinct from each other. Researchers of social support should be careful to specify the social variable they are studying. (Author/NB)