Addressing Adolescents' Depression and Risk Behavior: The Impact of Parents' and Teachers' Social Support

• In Event: Health and Well-Being in Adolescence

Abstract

Adolescence is a time of trials and tribulations for many students. As a potential antidote against this development, this study focused on longitudinal effects of perceived social support from mothers, fathers, and teachers on adolescents´ depression and risk behavior. Using data from the Childhood and Beyond Study, manifest path models and cross-lagged analyses were conducted. Results indicated that mothers’ and teachers’, but not fathers’ social support were associated with a decrease in students´ depression in different phases of adolescence. In addition, variation by student gender were found: While perceived mothers’ social support led to a decrease in depression for males and females within one year, perceived social support of teachers led to lower depression only for females within one year.

Authors

• Charlott Rubach, University of California - Irvine

• Anna-Lena Dicke, University of California, Irvine

• Rebecca Christine Lazarides, University of Potsdam

• Sandra D. Simpkins, University of California - Irvine

• Jacquelynne S. Eccles, University of California - Irvine