The relationship between perceived social support and maladjustment for students at risk

TLDR

The study investigates how perceived social support relates to self‑reported maladjustment among at‑risk Hispanic middle‑school students. Data were collected using the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale and the Behavior Assessment System for Children self‑report questionnaire. Overall social support was significantly associated with better clinical and school adjustment, with parent and classmate support most strongly linked to clinical and interpersonal outcomes and parent, teacher, and school support linked to school‑related outcomes. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Abstract

Abstract This study examines the relationship between adolescents' ( N = 125) perceived social support and self‐reported (mal)adjustment indicators in a sample of predominantly at risk: Hispanic students in an urban middle school. The instruments used to collect data were the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (Malecki, Demaray, & Elliott, 2000) and the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Self Report of Personality (Reynolds & Kamphaus, 1998). Results indicated significant relationships in the expected direction between overall social support and clinical and school (mal)adjustment indicators. Parent and classmate support were most strongly related to clinical and interpersonal indicators whereas parent, teacher, and school support were related to school‐related indicators. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.