title: Adolescent predictors of satisfaction with social support six years later: An Australian longitudinal study.
abstract: The importance of socially supportive relationships in assisting people to cope with stress and adverse events is well recognised, but the trajectories whereby individuals develop the capacity to attract those supports have been infrequently studied. Taking advantage of a substantial longitudinal data set, we aimed to explore the precursors during mid-adolescence, of satisfaction with social supports in young adulthood. Both personality factors (extraversion, neuroticism) and adolescent experiences of high-quality interpersonal relationships with parents and peers were hypothesised to predict subsequent satisfactory supports; we wished to compare the influence of these factors. Participants in a study of the school to work transition (N = 558) provided psychosocial information at 16-17 years of age and then again six years later at 23, using paper and online questionnaires and standardised measures. Personality and family climate variables both predicted adult social support, with family cohesiveness and neuroticism having the largest roles. The possible implications for mental health promotion are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: helen.winefield@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Helen R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Winefield
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Delfabbro
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy, University of South Australia, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Winefield
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Plueckhahn
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Catia G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Malvaso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adolescents; Family relations; Mental health; Social supports