SOCIAL SUPPORT AND SELF-ESTEEM IN UNEMPLOYED UNIVERSITY GRADUATES

The first aim of this study was to examine the relationship between th e length of time of unemployment and the self-esteem and general life satisfaction of university graduates. The second aim was to examine th e function of social support during the period of unemployment. The sa mple consisted of 98 unemployed university graduates (67 females and 3 1 males). The measure of self-esteem consisted of the adapted Rosenber g scale. The instruments for assessment of general life satisfaction a nd social support were developed by the authors of this study. Results showed that length of unemployment, contrary to previous findings, wa s not related to self-esteem and general life satisfaction. Social sup port of the parents and the partner was associated with higher self-es teem of unemployed university graduates.