Analysis of resilience levels of middle school students in terms of perceived social support and family functions

Aim of this research is to analyze secondary school students' resilience levels in terms of perceived social support and family functions. Within this context; resilience levels of students is analyzed in terms of social support level students perceived from their families, friends and teachers and condition of family functions. Also resilience levels of students are analyzed with regard to demographic variables such as sex, education level of parents and income level of family. Sample of research is consisting of 95 male and 93 female total of 188 students who study in a secondary school in Gaziosmanpaşa district of Istanbul in 2015-2016 academic year. In order to determine students' sex, education level of their parents and income level of the family, a Personal Info Form which is developed by the researcher is used. Resilience and Adolescent Development Scale developed by Wested (2001a) and adjusted to Turkish by Cem Ali Gizir is used to determine students' resilience levels. Perceived Social Support Scale which is developed and revised by Yıldırım (2004) is used to determine the social support level students perceived. Family Evaluation Scale which was developed in USA by Brown University and Butler Hospital in the scope of Family Research Program and adjusted to Turkish by Bulut (1990) is used to determine students' condition of family function. Data is analyzed by using SPSS 18 Statistics Program, with the methods of simple and multiple regression analysis, analysis of variance and T-Test. Result of the research shows that independent variables of the study, perceived social support and family functions, are meaningly predicting resilience level. Demographic variables of research sex, education level of parents and income level of family didn't create a significant difference on resilience levels. Research results are discussed in the light of obtained findings and suggestions are made for the studies ahead. Key Words: Resilience, Perceived Social Support, Family Functions