The social support of higher education students

• Main Authors: Carla Maria Cruz, Paula Nelas, Claudia Chaves, Mariline Almeida, Sandra Costa
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Asociación Nacional de Psicología Evolutiva y Educativa de la Infancia Adolescencia Mayores y Discapacidad 2016-07-01
• Series: INFAD
• Subjects: suporte social; ensino superior; estudantes; satisfação
• Online Access: http://www.infad.eu/RevistaINFAD/OJS/index.php/IJODAEP/article/view/235

Background: The access to higher education is a complex process and it's a major challenge for students, confronting them with numerous changes and challenges. Satisfaction with social support is considered a protective and adaptive factor in the face of adverse characteristics of this integration process. Goals: Evaluate the satisfaction of social support on higher education students and analyze the relationship between social support and socio-demographic, academic and socio-economic variables. Methods: Data was collected through the implementation of a questionnaire in an online platform to a non-probabilistic sample of 556 students (average age 20.20 years) taking a degree. Socio-demographic, academic and socio-economic information was obtained. Satisfaction with social support was obtained through the Satisfaction Scale with Social Support (Pais Ribeiro, 1999). Results: Gender variables, age, parent's marital status, number of siblings, household income, region to which they belong, number of children, satisfaction with the course and study, and the place of residence, all this statistically interfered in satisfaction with social support. Conclusion: We suggest the implementation of diagnostic measures in schools to identify risk situations relating to social support, and appropriate interventions to prevent behaviors that may harm the personal and academic life of the same.