London - Just one good friend can be enough to help teenagers from tough backgrounds overcome their problems, say psychologists.
But it is boys from such backgrounds who get the most help from a best friend, they say. While girls may get encouragement, they are also given more bad advice.
The researchers from the universities of Sussex, Belfast and Leeds studied 409 youngsters aged between 11-19 from low-income households in Yorkshire. Teenagers from poor or disadvantaged backgrounds often have poorer health and fewer job opportunities than those from wealthier homes.
But relying on the support of a best friend – as opposed to being part of a gang or large group – can boost the “self reliance” of those facing these challenges and help them to succeed, said the study.
Daily Mail