Adolescent friendships mediating childhood adversity and adult outcome

Abstract

This interview-based study compares the friendships of 50 girls, aged 15–16, identified on the basis of their childhood experiences as being at-risk for difficulties in early adult partnerships, with the friendships of 50 girls of the same age from an inner-city school. Key differences in the features of both romantic and non-romantic adolescent friendships between the two groups of girls give a clearer understanding of the processes linking childhood adversity and poor adult outcome.