Social Support and Quality of Life in Junior High School Students from Households on Welfare

Abstract

Along with an increase in the number of Japanese people suffering economic hardship, the problems of children in poverty have been especially exacerbated. Economic factors have an effect on not only the necessities of life for these children, but also their social relations. The purpose of the study was to examine the characteristics of social support in children from impoverished households. Junior high school students from households on welfare (n＝132) and students from ordinary households (n＝256) completed the SESS measuring social support, and the KINDL, a measure of quality of life (QOL). The results showed that students from impoverished households perceived support from their teachers as lacking, compared to students from ordinary households. Among students from ordinary households, support from parents, teachers, and friends were associated with QOL scores. Among students from impoverished households, support from friends was associated with QOL scores, but support from their teachers was not associated with any QOL scores. These results suggest that more support in school is required for children from impoverished households.