A Cross-Sectional Study of the Social Support Networks of Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Social support networks of Japanese children and adolescents were explored. Grade 5 elementary school children, 1^st to 3^rd year junior high school students, and 2^nd year high school students completed a social support network questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 9 multiple-choice items regarding support providers, namely, father, mother, intimate friend, school teacher, etc. Composite scores (support scores) for each support provider were calculated by sex and grade. Some differences between grade 5 elementary school children and junior high school students in support scores were found. Generally, support scores of female students were higher than those of male students. Support scores for public school teachers and private school teachers were generally low. The principal component analyses for support scores were performed by sex and grade to examine the relationships of support providers. Generally, family members, school teacher, and intimate friend were highly loaded in the first principal components. It was found that a small number of students who chose only public school teacher or private school teacher in each item also existed. Finally, issues relating to measurement of social support were discussed.