Helping Responses of Parents and Peers and Adolescent Well-Being

Abstract

This study examines the relationship of helping responses of mothers, fathers, and peers to several aspects of adolescent well-being. Helping responses from these sources were also related to other aspects of the helping process. Ss were 274 adolescents (93 males and 181 females) in high school. Anonymously completed questionnaires provided assessments of typical helping responses, other aspects of the helping process (satisfaction, disclosure of problems), and well-being (life satisfaction, psychosomatic symptoms) and several negative feeling states. Helping responses of Domination-Disconfirmation and Distraction were negatively related to other helping variables and adolescent well-being; Emotional and Concrete Support were positively related to other helping variables and adolescent well-being. Helping responses of parents were particularly vital.