Abstract

ORCASITA PINEDA, Linda Teresa  and  URIBE RODRIGUEZ, Ana Fernanda. The importance of social support in adolescent welfare. Psychol. av. discip. [online]. 2010, vol.4, n.2, pp.69-82. ISSN 1900-2386.

The purpose of this article is to conduct a review of the important aspects of social support, specifically in the adolescent stage. It deals with the concept of social support as approached by different authors, and aspects which influence peoples' welfare and health, mainly in vital events or situations in which stress is present. Later, emphasis is made on the adolescent population, its characteristics and main sources of support, among which are family and friends. It is intended, through this method, to establish whether social support has an influence as a factor of risk or of protection with respect to the different problem areas which occur at this stage. Finally, the most important contributions and benefits of social support are discussed, together with the need to have available a support network during the adolescent stage. It concludes with the need to create and strengthen programs focused on social support networks for the benefit of adolescents, with the purpose of understanding and providing a better level of attention to their needs, thus preventing risk behaviors.

Keywords : social support; social networks; adolescence; family; friends; psychological welfare.

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