The protective power of connection: a proposed conceptual model of social supports in the context of youth adversity, disrupted attachment, and trauma symptoms

TL;DR

This paper proposes a model explaining how social support can help youth facing adversity and trauma.

Contribution

The novel contribution is a conceptual model integrating ecological and theoretical perspectives on social support for youth.

Findings

Social support can mitigate risks from adversity in youth development.

Ecological systems influence how youth perceive and access social support.

The model integrates theory and empirical evidence for practical implications.

Abstract

Youths’ exposure to adversity is a significant contributor to the current pediatric mental health crisis. Social support is believed to have the power to promote positive developmental outcomes for young people, even helping to mitigate the risks associated with adversity experiences. However, both internal and environmental ecological systems shape how youth perceive and access the social supports available within their network. This paper draws upon various foundational theorists to propose a theoretically and empirically supported conceptual model that works to disentangle these nuanced and complicated factors influencing young people’s perceptions of social support and related developmental outcomes. This paper also discusses future implications for practice.

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