The Role of Support from Parents, Friends, and Romantic Partners in Mexican-Origin Female Adolescents' Positive Development
Open Access
Author:
Kuchler, Alexandra Marie
Area of Honors:
Human Development and Family Studies
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Mayra Y Bamaca-Colbert, Thesis Supervisor Mayra Y Bamaca-Colbert, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Kathryn Bancroft Hynes, Thesis Honors Advisor Scott David Gest, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
self-esteem academic motivation emotional support
Abstract:
This study examined the contribution that social support from various significant others (i.e. mothers, fathers, friends, and romantic partners) had in predicting female adolescents’ global self-esteem and academic motivation. The data was taken from Wave 2 of a longitudinal study focusing on the experiences of Mexican-origin female adolescents. Wave 2 sample consisted of 153 adolescents, and the final sample for the current study consisted of 93 Mexican-origin female adolescents ranging from 14 to 19 years of age. After controlling for global self-esteem and academic motivation at Wave 1, findings revealed that parents were the most salient source of support in predicting adolescent adjustment, followed by support from friends. More specifically, support from fathers was significant in the prediction of global self-esteem, while support from mothers approached significance. Furthermore, support from friends emerged as a significant predictor, but only for older adolescents, not younger adolescents. Only support from mothers proved to be a significant predictor of academic motivation. Support from romantic partners did not emerge as a significant predictor for the outcome variables. Further investigation is warranted to explore the outcomes associated with friend and romantic partner support at various developmental stages.
