Stress-Buffering Effects of Social Support and Social Problem Solving Skills in the Adjustment of Children

아동의 적응에 있어서 사회적 지지와 사회적 문제해결 기술의 스트레스 완충 효과에 대한 연구

This study investigated the relation between stressful life events and adjustment in elementary school children, with particular emphasis on the potential main and stress-buffering effects of social support and social problem solving skills. 4-6 graders (N=170) completed the Social Support Appraisals Scale(SSAS) and social problem solving skills task. The SSAS is a 31-item measure that taps the child's perceptions or appraisals of family, peer, and teacher support. Their parents provided ratings of stress in the child's environment and ratings of the child's behavioral adjustment. Teachers provided ratings of the child's behavioral and academic adjustment. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses and graphic display were used to analyze the data. The major findings were that (1) The results for parent-rated problems supported a stress-buffering model for family support and problem solving. (2) The results for teacher-rated problems were consistent with the stress-buffering model of social support. (3) The results for grade-point average supported a main effect model for problem solving. peer support, and family support. In addition, teacher support had the strongest stress-buffering effect on grade-point average.