ERIC Number: EJ1142544
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Jun
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
EISSN: N/A
A Longitudinal Person-Centered Perspective on Youth Social Support: Relations with Psychological Wellbeing
Ciarrochi, Joseph; Morin, Alexandre J. S.; Sahdra, Baljinder K.; Litalien, David; Parker, Philip D.
Developmental Psychology, v53 n6 p1154-1169 Jun 2017
Past research suggests that perceived social support from parents, teachers, and peers are all positively associated with wellbeing during adolescence. However, little longitudinal research has examined the implications of distinctive combinations of social support for developing adolescents. To address this limitation, we measured multiple dimensions of social support, psychological ill-health, and wellbeing in a sample of 2034 Australian adolescents (M[subscript age] = 13.7; 49.6% male) measured in Grades 8 and 11. Latent transition analyses identified a 6-profile solution for both waves of data, and revealed substantial inequality in perceived social support. Two "socially rich" profiles corresponded to 7% of the sample and had high social support (>1SD above sample mean) from at least two sources. ("Fully Integrated"; "Parent and Peer Supported"). In contrast, 25% of the sample was "socially poor," having support that was between -0.65 to -0.86 SD below the sample mean for all 3 sources ("Isolated" profile). None of the other profiles ("Peer Supported"; "Moderately Supported"; "Weakly Supported") had levels of support below -0.37 SD from any source. Furthermore, almost all wellbeing problems were concentrated in the "Isolated" Profile, with negative effects more pronounced in Grade 11 than Grade 8. Despite feeling low parent and teacher support, adolescents in the "Peer Supported" profile felt strong peer support and average to above-average levels of wellbeing in Grades 8 and 11. However, they also had an 81% chance of making a negative transition to either the "Isolated" or "Weakly Supported" profiles in Grade 11.
Descriptors: Longitudinal Studies, Well Being, Adolescents, Foreign Countries, Social Support Groups, Grade 8, Grade 11, Secondary School Students, Profiles, Predictor Variables, Mental Health, Parent Child Relationship, Teacher Student Relationship, Peer Relationship, Factor Analysis
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 8; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Elementary Education; Secondary Education; Grade 11; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A