The relationship between perceived social support levels and social competence of students of education faculty

The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive power of perceived social support levels of students of education faculty on social competence levels. On the other hand, the levels of social competence of students of education faculty perceived social support levels were evaluated in terms of their various personal variables. Personal information form, Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, Social Competence and Outcome Expectations Scale were used as data collection tools. Mean, standard deviation, t-test, one-way Anova, correlation moment product correlation analysis, simple and multiple linear regression analysis methods were used to find answers to the sub-problems of the study. As a result of the analyzes, it was concluded that the perceived social support levels of the students of education faculty were higher and the perceived social support levels of the female participants were significantly higher than the male participants. On the other hand, perceived social support levels of university students did not differ significantly according to their education levels. According to the other results of the study, as the number of siblings increases, the perceived social support levels of the students of education faculty decrease. The perceived social support levels of the students of education faculty were found to be in parallel with their income levels. In the study, it was seen that the students of education faculty social competence levels were high. In addition, female students of education faculty social outcome expectation levels were significantly higher than male students of education faculty. On the other hand, it was concluded that the higher the age of students of education faculty, the higher their social competence levels. According to another finding of the study, the level of social competence of teacher candidates differed significantly in favor of students in the guidance and psychological counseling department and the students in the department of music teaching. There was a significant negative correlation between the number of siblings and the social competence levels of the students of education faculty. Teacher candidates' social competence levels differ significantly in favor of both their families and those with high income according to their income levels. It was found out that the social competence levels of teacher candidates were higher in private dormitories and homes compared to those living in state dormitories in terms of the type of place of residence separate from the family. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis were conducted to examine the predictive power of teacher candidates' perceived social support levels on their social efficacies. According to the results of these analyzes, the total social support scores of the teacher candidates and the scores obtained from the sub-dimensions of family, friends and a special person predicted the social competence levels of the teacher candidates.