Research indicates that establishing a secure attachment relationship in childhood affects later perceived social support (PSS). In order to test this relationship empirically and to gather comparative information on the separate elements of PSS, two attachment questionnaires and three measures of PSS were administered to 139 white males and 320 white females between the ages of 15 and 20. Separate mother and father versions of the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment were completed, measuring the level of confidence, quality of communication, and level of alienation in the attachment relationship. In addition, participants were asked to complete tests of three separate constructs of PSS: a selection of the five most preoccupying items from a list of 36 stressful events, a list of members in their social network and evaluations of the level of support in each, and an inventory of their general expectations of social support. Results of the study included the following: (1) the three constructs of PSS (i.e., general feelings of support, specific support from the social network, and specific support in stressful situations) were found to be significantly correlated and to measure independent aspects of global PSS; (2) a significant positive relationship was observed between the quality of parental attachment and feelings of support; (3) the correlation between attachment and PSS related to both stressful events and other adults in the social network; and (4) representations of parental attachment contributed to specific expectations of support, and thus would appear to influence specific behaviors. (AC)