The effects of social support reciprocity between parents and adolescents on independency and depression of undergraduate students

Abstract

The effects of social support reciprocity between parents and adolescents on undergraduate students’ independency and depression were investigated. The results indicated that independency increased and the depression score was significantly lower in the group that received and provided more support, compared to the group that received and provided less support. The results of multiple regression analysis indicated social support from adolescents to fathers had negative correlations, whereas, in men, social support from adolescents to mothers had positive correlations with depression scores. Moreover, in women, social support from mothers to adolescents had positive correlations with dependency on parents. Overall, social support from adolescents to fathers had positive correlations with independency.