PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AMONG THE YOUTH IN THE FISHERMEN COMMUNITY OF KERALA – A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29244/jsshe.2.1.51-62Abstract
Youth represents the foundation and future of every nation and community. The sustainable development of any community depends heavily on the quality of attention and social support provided to its younger generation. Social support act as the critical protective factor, enabling individuals to navigate and overcome the diverse psychosocial obstacles and challenges they encounter in their daily lives. This study aims to study the socio-demographic characteristics and analyze the pattern and level of perceived social support among youth in the fishermen community of Kerala and to determine if significant differences exist in the support received from family, friends, and significant others. A quantitative multi-dimensional descriptive research design was employed to meet the objectives of the study, utilizing a sample of 100 youth (N=100) selected via simple random sampling. Data were collected using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) scale. Data were analyzed using Repeated Measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. The study results indicated a moderate level of overall social support is getting the youth in the fishermen community. The findings based on the hypothesis testing revealed that a significant difference among support dimensions (p < .05), among the youth in the fishermen community, which is leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. Post-hoc analysis showed that while support from family and friends was perceived as equally strong, support from 'significant others' was significantly lower. The study concludes that youth in the fishermen community rely heavily on traditional kinship and friend networks to navigate psycho-socio-economic challenges. The study findings concluded interventions should focus on strengthening these informal support systems to enhance mental health outcomes and community resilience via providing enough social support.
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