2016 Volume 27 Issue 4 Pages 395-407
Social support is one of the factors that promotes mental health among adolescents. The current cross-sectional study of 4th–9th grade students investigated the effects of social support on mental health problems such as depression and aggression. Using general linear model and controlling for gender, age, and stressors, it was found that students who perceived more social support from peer and/or adults exhibited lower levels of depression. In addition, gender was related to associations between social support and depression – girls showed stronger associations than boys. A negative but weak effect of peer support on aggression was also notable, although we did not find the same effects for adult support on aggression. According to an analysis of relationships between gender/age and levels of social support, girls perceived more social support from peers and adults than boys. Finally, students in higher grade levels perceived more peer support and less adult support.
