Social Support from Parents, Friends, Classmates, and Teachers in Children and Adolescents Aged 9 to 18 Years: Who Is Perceived as Most Supportive?

TLDR

The study examined age‑ and gender‑related differences in perceived social support from parents, friends, classmates, and teachers among 655 children and adolescents aged 9–18 years. Researchers administered a validated social support scale to 304 boys and 351 girls to assess perceived support from each source. Parents and friends were perceived as equally supportive across most ages, with friend support surpassing parent support only in 16–18‑year‑olds; teacher support declined in older groups due to the primary‑to‑secondary transition, and girls reported higher support from teachers, classmates, and friends than boys.

Abstract

Age and gender differences in perceived social support from parents, friends, classmates, and teachers were investigated in 304 boys and 351 girls aged 9–18 years. The social support scale for children and adolescents was used for this purpose. Analyses showed that the level of perceived social support from parents and friends was similar across age groups. The study of the prominence of social support sources showed that parents and friends were perceived as equally supportive; only for the ages 16–18 years did friend support exceed parent support. Support from teachers was lower in the older age groups, and this was related to the transition from primary to secondary school. Finally, girls perceived more support from teachers, classmates and friends than boys did.