Perceived relational support in adolescence: Dimensions, configurations, and adolescent adjustment

The perceived relational support from four key providers (father, mother, s pecial sibling, and best friend) on five provisions (quality of information , respect for autonomy, emotional support, convergence of goals, and accept ance) was examined for 2,262 adolescents (aged 12-18 years). In a variable- centered approach, factor analyses yielded five dimensions of support: thre e specific to providers (parent, friend, and sibling support) and two speci fic to provisions (convergence of goals and respect for autonomy). Only par ental support was found to change (decrease) across age. In a person-center ed approach, five types of adolescents with different configurations of per ceived support were identified. The first three types differed in overall l evel of support (high, average, and low) for all of the five dimensions; th e fourth type represented extremely low support from parents with above-ave rage support from best friends; the fifth type consisted of adolescents wit h no best friend. These configurations were significantly related to differ ent patterns of adolescent adjustment in various domains (psychological wel l-being, delinquency, substance use, and peer-group functioning).