Relationships and support

The quality of the relationships and support children enjoy are closely linked to children’s levels of risk and resilience. The nature of their relationships at home, school or in the community affect their experiences of growing up and their diverse trajectories over time.

The children in the Young Lives sample all put great emphasis on strong relationships, especially in the family. Many are carers for younger siblings or sick family members. Peer relationships become increasingly important as children get older, especially as they change schools or move communities.

We also ask children about their social capital (their connectedness to people around them, such as peers, friends, family members and neighbours). Each child is asked about frequency of play and support.  Support is measured by asking about the availability of someone to help them.

We explore to what extent children have agency in making decisions in matters affecting their lives and what choices they have. The opportunities and experiences of caregivers affect their children’s outcomes too.

We also look at the roles and responsibilities children have within their households and how these contribute to their sense of well-being and development. For example, in Ethiopia work is a central feature of the lives of girls and boys and this work is essential for the household economy. Intra-household relations are better described as ‘interdependent’ rather than being about children’s dependence on and subordination to parents and caregivers within the household. In contexts of high household risk, interdependence may be a highly protective factor that reduces household vulnerability. Children acquire skills and capacities through the work they perform that helps themselves and others within the household.

Beyond family, extended family, friends, school and religious institutions, there are also formal and informal sources of community support available from the government and NGOs (such as formal and informal social protection).