Family support, social support, and psychological well-being of school-going adolescent girls in Uganda

Adolescent girls in Uganda face significant psychological distress due to poverty, gender-based violence, early marriage, and weak family and social support systems. This study examines the association between family and social support and the psychological well-being of adolescent girls. We utilized baseline data from the Suubi4Her study ( N = 1,260). Psychological well-being was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem, Beck Hopelessness, and Tennessee Self-Concept Scales. Mixed-effects regression models were used to examine the association of family and social support factors with adolescents’ psychological well-being. Greater family support was associated with higher self-esteem (β = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.09; p = 0.037), higher self-concept (β = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.29; p < 0.001), and lower hopelessness (β=−0.03; 95% CI: −0.06, − 0.01; p = 0.009). Greater social support was also associated with higher self-esteem (β = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.10; p < 0.001), higher self-concept (β = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.39; p < 0.001), and lower hopelessness (β=−0.07; 95% CI: −0.08, − 0.06; p < 0.001). Findings suggest the need for family-strengthening interventions and social support networks to enhance adolescents’ self-esteem and self-concept as well as reduce their hopelessness.