The relationship between perceived social support and psychological well- being among adolescent orphans: The case of an orphanage in Lebanon

Abstract

Although existing research has revealed a relationship between social support and psychological well-being among youth, this relationship has not been explored enough among students living in orphanages. The purpose of this study was four-folds: (a) to describe the nature of social support provided by the orphanage to its students; (b) to understand how adolescent students perceive social support from the main sources (i.e., parents, teachers, and peers); (c) to determine the specific sources of support (i.e., parent, teacher, or peers) most predictive of well-being outcomes; and (d) to investigate gender differences in the relationship between multiple sources of support on psychological well-being among adolescent students residing at an orphanage. A mixed methods approach and a correlational research design were used to conduct this study. The participants included a total of 160 adolescent students who live and go to school at an orphanage in Lebanon. The resulting data were analyzed using regression and thematic analysis techniques. The results of the hierarchical linear regression indicated that social support from teachers, classmates, and people in my school were statistically significant predictors of well-being, while parents and close friends were not significant predictors of well- being. Gender was neither a statistically significant moderator of social support, nor a statistically significant main effect. On the other hand, six qualitative themes were identified: support from teachers and supervisors and the specific subthemes in relation to this theme were: (a) material support, (b) academic support, (c) advice and conflict resolution, and (d) emotional and moral support. The second theme was support from friends and in this regard, participants mentioned two types of support: (a) academic support and (b) emotional and moral support. The third theme was support from counsellors, participants mentioned (a) emotional and moral support and (b) advice. The fourth theme was health support and saw no subthemes as well as theme five pertaining to self-support. Lastly, in theme six of evaluation of support, participants mentioned (a) physical abuse should be addressed (b) emotional and moral support should be improved (c) more activities organized and (d) rules and policies should be revised.