SUMMARY
Studies have evidenced the importance of social support perception in di erent stages of the vital cycle. is cross-sectional and quantitative study aimed to know the social support perception (sup- port from the family, teachers, friends and general support) in adolescents, considering the variables sex, age and family con guration. ree hundred and seventy- ve students of public schools in Porto Alegre/ RS, aged 13-19 years old participated in the study and answered the Social Support Appraisals Scale. Girls presented signi cantly higher average in scale and a higher perceived support from friends than boys. No signi cant di erences regarding the social support perception were found considering age and type of family con guration. e importance of social support in contexts such as family and school in the development of adolescents and the in uence of gender on perceived social support are discussed.