Differential effects of support providers on adolescents' mental health

This prospective study examined the differential effects of parent, teacher, and peer social support on depression and self-esteem of 217 adolescents, ages 15 to 18. Results indicate that female adolescents perceived significantly more support from friends than male adolescents did, whereas male ado...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social work research 2003-03, Vol.27 (1), p.19-30
Main Authors: Colarossi, Lisa G., Eccles, Jacquelynne S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Achievement
Adolescence
Adolescents
Causes of
Cognitive Development
depression
Depression (Psychology)
Depression in adolescence
Depressive disorders
Friendship
Gender Differences
Men
Mental depression
Mental Health
Mothers
Parent Child Relations
Parent Child Relationship
Parents
Peer Relations
Peer Relationship
Predictor Variables
Psychological aspects
Self Esteem
Self image
Sex Differences
Social life & customs
Social Support
Social Support Groups
Statistics
Student Teacher Relationship
Teacher Student Relationship
Teenagers
Womens studies
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Summary:This prospective study examined the differential effects of parent, teacher, and peer social support on depression and self-esteem of 217 adolescents, ages 15 to 18. Results indicate that female adolescents perceived significantly more support from friends than male adolescents did, whereas male adolescents perceived significantly more support from fathers than female adolescents did. No gender differences were found in perceptions of support from mothers or teachers. Boys and girls perceived the least amount of support from fathers compared with other providers. Multisample structural equation models were invariant across female and male groups for the effects of support providers on each outcome. The joint effects of the support providers explained a significant amount of variance in time 2 depression and self-esteem, after controlling for both at time 1, suggesting that social support has important effects on symptoms. The separate effects of mothers, teachers, and friends had similarly sized, significant negative effects on time 2 depression. Self-esteem was significantly, positively affected by friend and teacher support.
ISSN:1070-5309
1545-6838
DOI:10.1093/swr/27.1.19