Disadvantaged youths’ subjective well-being: the role of gender, age, and multiple social support attunement

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between gender, age, Multiple Social Support Attunement (MSSA), and disadvantaged youths’ Subjective Well-Being (SWB). MSSA is defined as social support patterns regarding multiple sources. In this study, MSSA patterns included closest family member, mentor, and best friend support. SWB was measured in terms of quality-of-life, social anxiety, and depression. Two hundred and thirty-six adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years old (M = 14.10; SD = 1.78; 60.20% boys) participated in this study. A three-class solution was retained after Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was conducted, guaranteeing a more balanced participant distribution and a more feasible comparison between MSSA patterns. Further analyses showed that MSSA patterns were associated with disadvantaged youths’ quality-of-life, social anxiety and depression, regardless of age and gender effects. These associations were more generalized and systematic than those between gender or age and the selected well-being indicators. High MSSA also emerged as an optimal pattern to improve disadvantaged youths’ SWB, especially among early adolescents. Recommendations are made to improve MSSA assessment in social interventions, as well as to promote cross-generational activities that may help to activate high MSSA shared by peers and significant adults.