The Youth on Significant Persons in the Surrounding Social Space

Abstract

This paper herein focuses on the young people perception of the nearest significant social space, especially the family environment, parents and siblings, as well – peers (peer group). Firstly, the assessment of the youth on their relationship with parents and siblings was shown, then – the participation of family members and peers in solving the problems of young people and the impact of the circle of family and peers onto their attitudes and life choices. There has also been undertaken the problem of parental authority. The basis for the analyzes were the research results from national surveys and from those carried out on purposivesamples. The study period included the last two decades, i.e. the period from the beginning of the nineties of the last century to 2012. In light of these findings it can be concluded that the significant people in close social space for young people are members of the family (especially they mother, but also they father, to a lesser extent, siblings) and peer groups (friends, colleagues, and boyfriends/girlfriends). They give young people the emotional support and the environment on which they can rely in dealing with the problems, choices and decisions in life.