Trends in the Link Between Perceived Social Support and Life Satisfaction in Adolescents (2013/14–2021/22): A Cross-National Study

Abstract

Objectives: This repeated cross-sectional study aimed to (a) report trends in adolescents’ perceived family, friend, classmate, and teacher support, (b) estimate the extent to which each source of support related to life satisfaction across space and time, and (c) ascertain whether sociodemographic factors moderated the relationship in question. Methods: We relied on data pertaining to the 2013/14, 2017/18, and 2021/22 waves of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. The examined sample covered 44 countries and regions (n = 716,083; MAGE = 13.6; SDAGE = 1.64; 50.7% female). Results: The level of all sources of perceived social support slightly decreased over the examined period (all ω2