THE INFLUENCE OF GENDER, ADJUSTMENT, SOCIAL SUPPORT FROM FRIENDS, AND FAMILY CONNECTEDNESS ON RESILIENCE IN DISADVANTAGED ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

               Objective: The purpose of this research was to examine the influence of gender, adjustment, social support from friends, and family connectedness on resilience in disadvantaged adolescents.

               Methods: The participants were 266 secondary school students studying in a school for disadvantaged adolescents in the central region of Thailand. Sample random sampling was used for sample selection. The research instruments for data collection included 1) Demographic Questionnaire, 2) Resilience Inventory, 3) Adjustment Questionnaire, 4) Social Support from Friends Questionnaire and 5) Family Connectedness Questionnaire. Reliabilities of the instrument 2 to 5 were .85, .87, .86 and .70 respectively. The descriptive statistics, Spearman rank correlation coefficient, point biserial correlation coefficient, and hierarchical multiple regression were used for data analyses.

               Results: The results showed that gender was statistically significant associated with resilience (r = .170; p < .01). Adjustment, social support from friends, and family connectedness were positively and significantly associated with resilience (r = .428, .457, and .211 respectively; p < .01). Gender, adjustment, social support from friends, and family connectedness could jointly explained 34.0 percent of the variance of resilience in disadvantaged adolescents (R² = .340, F = 33.651, p < .001). The statistically significant factors influencing resilience in disadvantaged adolescents were social support from friends and adjustment.

               Conclusion: The results of this study might be utilized to develop guidelines for strengthening resilience in disadvantaged adolescents.