The role of essential needs and social support in social adjustment among high school students

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of essential needs and social support in social adjustment among high school students. Method: A correlational method was used and the statistical population was all the students from Tarom district of Ghazvin province in Iran, who were enrolled in the 2008 - 09 academic year. The sample included 160 (80 girls, 80 boys) student who were selected based on availability. Assessment instruments were the Students Needs Survey (Burns, Vance, Diane, Seadokierski & Stockwell, 2006) Social Support Appraisals (SS-A) Scale (Vaux, Phillips, Holly, Thomson, Williams & Stewart, 1986) and the Adjustment Student Questionnaire Sinha and Singh (1993). Data were analyzed using path analysis. Results: Results show that the direct effect of gender on essential needs and social adjustment was significant but there was no direct effect of gender on social support. The indirect effect of gender on social adjustment and social support was significant but total effect of gender on essential needs was not significant. The direct effect of social support on social adjustment was significant. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that essential needs and social support can influence social adjustment. This information can be used so that the importance of essential needs and social support is reiterated in plans and programs so that social adjustment is increased and the degree of maladjustment is decreased in students.