Relationships between Adolescent Well-Being and Friend Support and Behavior

Abstract

This article examines friend support and behavior, assessing for interdependent relationships with adolescent behavior and well-being. Keeping with an ecological framework, relationships were examined in the context of other risk and protective factors in youths' homes, neighborhoods, and schools. Using data from the School Success Profile, findings show that, in the context of these relationships, friends remain important in our understanding of child well-being. Friend support was important for well-being, but support should also be examined alongside friends' behavior. Friend behavior may be as, or more, important for well-being than support from friends, as children with less support from well-behaved friends had better well-being than those with more support from friends with problem behavior. Implications for social workers and other school personnel are discussed.