Perceived social support and life-satisfaction

• Published in: Polish psychological bulletin Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 144 - 154
• Main Author: Kasprzak, Elzbieta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Warsaw Versita 01.01.2010; Polish Academy of Sciences
• Subjects: closeness of relationships; Emotional support; extent of relationships; Friends; Interpersonal relationships; life-satisfaction; Perceived social support; Social education; Social skills training
• ISSN: 0079-2993; 1641-7844
• DOI: 10.2478/v10059-010-0019-x

The article concerns the relationship between life-satisfaction and the features of interpersonal relationships and social support. The research presented in this paper concerned the satisfaction with the relationships with family members, friends, colleagues and acquaintances, the extent of the relationships among these groups, and the perceived social support. The aim of the presented research is to assess the impact of these characteristics on life-satisfaction. In addition, the changes that occurred after the social skills training in the level of life-satisfaction and its determinants were examined. The study group consisted of 60 participants. The results show that the strongest determinants of life-satisfaction are practical support and the satisfaction with the relationships with friends. After the social training the structure of the determinants changed. The factors which were relevant before the training appear to be insignificant now; however, the emotional support, satisfaction with family relationships and the number of friends gain in importance. The social skills training was also effective and increased the level of life-satisfaction.