Race and Gender: Perception and Reception of Support From Family and Friends

The current study examined the interaction between race (i.e., Black and White) and gender and the perception and reception of social support from mother figures, father figures, and friends during emerging adulthood. Social support from family and friends has been associated with positive physical and psychological health outcomes. Recent studies have shown that during emerging adulthood, individuals turn to their parents for continued support as they transition to college. However, very little research has examined the influence of gender. race, and the interaction on the reports of perceived and received support from mother figures, father figures, and friends during emerging adulthood. Emerging adults were surveyed at a large university in the Southern United States about their perceived and received social support from friends and parental figures. Results indicated significant differences across three types of support (i.e., instrumental, informational, and emotional support) by race, gender, the intersection of race and gender, and the source of the support. Results demonstrate the importance of perceptions of received and potential perceived support during emerging adulthood and the role of intersectionality, which contributes to individual perception/reception of support based on type and source of support.