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Social connectedness and youth development
Jaimee Stuart, Paul E. Jose and Magdalena Kielpikowski,
Roy McKenzie Centre for the Study of Families, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
A
dvancing
S
ocial
I
ntegration
and
I
ntergenerational
S
olidarity
S
ocial relationships are arguably the most important
influences on a youth’s social and psychological
adjustment; they enable normative interactions to
be learned and practised, they provide sources of social
support, and they create the basis for subsequent adult
attachment. For young people, functional and supportive
relationships across multiple contexts – such as family,
school, peers and community – can serve as a foundation
for successful engagement in the social world.
In contrast, the absence of such relationships or the experi-
ence of dysfunctional relationships may leave young people
unprepared to meet challenges that present themselves later
in life. Without a supportive social foundation, young people
are less able to cope with the transition into adulthood and
may experience difficulties adapting to new roles and envi-
ronments. Since functional social relationships play such
an integral role in youth development, it is imperative to
understand which types of relationships play a particularly
important role in promoting positive adjustment.
Contemporary researchers of adolescent development have
recently focused attention on social connectedness as a predic-
tor of, and protective factor for, psychosocial adjustment in
young people. Social connectedness can be broadly defined as
the quality and maintenance of the bonds between the self and
others, the degree to which these bonds are sustained over time
and the extent of mutual reciprocity, trust and dependency within
these relationships. A sense of connectedness includes cognitive
components such as cohesion, stability and mutuality; affective
components such as closeness, affection and satisfaction; and
behavioural components such as support, care and involvement.
Previously, we have proposed the following definition of social
connectedness for adolescents: “Connectedness is a psychological
state regarding other persons (groups or institutions) that reflects
a sense of belonging, a lack of aloneness, a perceived bond. This
sense of belonging is characterized by the adolescents’ perceptions
that they are valued and accepted; that they value and believe the
other persons (groups or individuals) to be important; that their
needs for companionship and support are met; and that they like
and enjoy being with the other person (group or institution). To
this extent, connectedness is conceptualized as something not
merely received, but reciprocated as well.”
1
Social connectedness is a construct receiving attention across
a number of disciplines as researchers are attempting to describe
what it means to be socially connected and to determine how
these connections affect well-being. Broadly, this research finds
Social connectedness provides stability, a sense of belonging and meaning
for adolescents
Adolescents tend to seek autonomy outside of the family system, for example
through work, social groups or sport
Image: Youth Connectedness Project
Image: Youth Connectedness Project