JMR Influence of Social Support on Promoting Happiness Among Adolescent Higher Secondary School Students

Abstract

The present study examines the influence of perceived social support on happiness among higher secondary school students in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu. Adolescence is a critical developmental stage marked by academic pressure, emotional sensitivity, and social transitions, making social support a vital protective factor for psychological well-being. A structured questionnaire was employed to capture data from 398 students in Grades 11 and 12 using a descriptive research design. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support was employed to measure social support, and happiness was measured using the short version of the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. The findings of the research indicated that the majority of students reported moderate to high levels of social support and happiness. Social support and happiness were found to be significantly positively correlated and regression analysis indicated that social support significantly predicted happiness, explaining approximately 38.6% of the variance. Differences in happiness were found based on medium of instruction and size of friendship networks, while gender, residence, and family type showed no significant variation. The study concludes that strong social support play a key role in enhancing adolescent happiness. These findings highlight the need for schools, families, and policymakers to strengthen supportive environments to promote adolescents’ emotional well-being and holistic development