YOUTH 2020 - The position of young people in Slovenia

Young people, family, and intergenerational mindsets  253 In recent decades, the trend of delayed marriage and the decision to form a family continued. Similar to leaving the parental home earlier, these trends can also be understood as a sign of global individualisation among young people. 7.2  SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORKS In the process of growing up, when young people start making their own and responsible decisions, social support networks are an indispensable resource for them. Young people usually need someone from their social network in their life decisions and stressful situations, whom they trust and who will offer them support. Social support is a multidimensional concept. Historically, earlier defini- tions of social support emphasized its emotional dimension (e.g. Weiss, 1974; Cobb, 1976; Thoits, 1982), i.e. as a sense of belonging and of being accepted and cared for by important others. More recent definitions (cf. Burleson, Albrecht, and Sarason, 1994) emphasize that social support is also an interaction and communication process. How young people un- derstand social support can be seen from interview excerpts. Young peo- ple’s perception of social support is evident from the interview extracts: “As a network or individuals who provide a sense of security, whom you can trust, who support you in the things you do. To feel good with them. That they help you solve problems you have but can’t solve on your own. Just to be available for a conversation, for some emotional support, maybe even finan- cial support if something unexpected happens, and you know that you can ask, that maybe they’ll lend you money, and you know that it’ll be okay. “ (Ester, 25 years old, researcher)