Perceived Social Support, Self-Regulation & Self Esteem among Adolescent School Goers

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between perceived social support, self-esteem, and self-regulation in Indian adolescents, with a particular focus on gender differences. A sample of 100 adolescents (aged 15-18 years) in Government schools was used, and they completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988), and the Shorter Self-Regulation Questionnaire (Carey, Neal, & Collins, 2004). Descriptive statistics revealed generally high scores in social support, self-esteem, and self-regulation. Correlational analysis revealed that higher perceived social support was significantly correlated with better self-regulation, and there were strong positive correlations among the various sources of social support. Interestingly, a small but significant negative correlation was found between self-esteem and family support, suggesting the presence of subtle cultural or contextual factors. Gender comparisons revealed a significant difference only in friend support, with girls reporting greater support from friends; the other variables did not show any significant gender difference. Surzykiewicz, J., Skalski, S. B., Sołbut, A., Rutkowski, S., & Konaszewski, K. (2022). Adolescents who feel stronger inside, value themselves, and feel supported by others are better at managing their emotions. The results underscore the significance of positive relationships, particularly friendships, in promoting self-regulation among adolescents, as well as the intricacy of family dynamics in influencing self-esteem. The findings confirm the necessity of school-based and family-based interventions to enhance social support networks, thereby improving the psychological well-being of adolescents.