Recent Innovations in Psychology

Recent Innovations in Psychology

Perceived Social Support, Prosocial Behaviors, Internalizing, and Externalizing Problems During Early Adolescence: Understanding the Mediating Role of School Belonging

Articles in Press

Document Type : In English

Authors
Hadi Samadieh 1
Farhad Tanhaye Reshvanloo 2
Mehdi Rezaei 1
Sefa Bulut 3
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Arman Razavi Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran
3 Professor, Department of Counseling Psychology & Guidance, Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul, Türkiye
10.22034/rip.2026.579493.1125
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate how school belonging (SB) mediates the relationship between perceived social support and internalizing/externalizing problems and prosocial behaviors. The research method was descriptive‑correlational. The statistical population comprised middle school students from Türkiye during the 2022‑2023 academic year. A total of 807 students (373 boys and 434 girls), were recruited using convenience sampling to complete the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Psychological Sense of School Membership Scale (PSSM), and Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results indicated that perceived social support influenced adolescent well-being through school belonging as a mediator. Family support enhanced school belonging (β = 0.28), which led to lower internalizing (β = -0.40) and externalizing problems (β= -0.27) while increasing prosocial behaviors (β = 0.23). Friend support was directly linked to higher externalizing problems (β = 0.132). Support from significant others strengthened school belonging (β = 0.25) and prosocial behaviors (β = 0.07) while reducing internalizing (β = -0.14) and externalizing problems (β = -0.22). Indirect effects confirmed family and significant other support influenced behavioral outcomes through school belonging, with all indirect effects statistically significant (P < 0.001). These findings underscore the protective role of school belonging, emphasizing its importance in adolescent emotional and behavioral development.
Keywords
early adolescence
internalizing and externalizing problems
perceived social support
prosocial behaviors
school belonging
Subjects
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Recent Innovations in Psychology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 14 May 2026

  • Receive Date 30 January 2026
  • Revise Date 17 March 2026
  • Accept Date 28 March 2026
  • First Publish Date 08 May 2026