SOCIAL SUPPORT AND BEHAVIORAL AND AFFECTIVE SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT: THE EFFECTS OF PEERS, PARENTS, AND TEACHERS

School engagement has long been seen as an important component of school completion, and research shows that social support in the home and school promotes engagement. However, many researchers have argued that it is not a unitary construct but rather a multifaceted phenomenon, and the role of peer social support has not been as well studied as support from parents and teachers. Our study examines the association of social support from parents, teachers, and peers with two forms of engagement: affective and behavioral. Data came from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Results indicate that although parent support was associated with higher levels of behavioral engagement, peer support was associated with higher levels of affective engagement.