Adolescent Sociometric Status and Social Support

Abstract

A sample of 247 early adolescents, classified into the sociometric statuses of popular, neglected, rejected controversial, and average, described their attempts to mobilize social support for help with a recent stressful event. Although the structural characteristics of the support networks mobilized did not differ by sociometric status, the amount of support provided by mobilized helpers did show some differences. It is suggested that sociomeiric status does not prevent adolescents from attempting to mobilize support when they experience stress, but it may affect the amount or type of support that mobilized helpers are willing to provide. An additional analysis found that mothers, fathers, and nonparental adults were relatively insensitive to sociometric differences and provided similar amounts of support to all adolescents. However, peers were more sensitive to status differences and varied the level of support they provided to adolescents in different statuses. The implications of these findings for coping with stress are discussed.