Adolescent Peer and Adult Relationships Across Time and Transition: A Longitudinal, Mixed-Methods Study

The goals of this study were to compare mothers' and fathers' direct involvement in adolescent girls' versus boys' peer relationships and to examine the links between parents' involvement and the qualities of adolescents' friendship and peer experiences. Participants were mothers, fathers, and firstborn adolescents (mean age = 15 years) in 187 working‐ and middle‐class families. Data were collected during home visits and a series of seven nightly telephone interviews. Parents' direct involvement was measured by parents' reports of their peer‐oriented activities, parents' knowledge about adolescents' peer experiences, and parents' time spent with adolescents and their peers. Findings revealed that mothers were more knowledgeable about adolescents' peer relationships than were fathers, that mothers with daughters reported the most peer‐oriented activities, and that both mothers and fathers spent more time with same‐sex adolescents and their peers. Parents' direct involvement was differentially related to girls' versus boys' peer experiences. Discussion highlights the role of parents' and adolescents' gender in shaping this dimension of family life in adolescence.

This study examined the associations between the quality of adolescents' peer and family relationships and the quality of their young adult romantic relationships. Adolescents (N = 253) completed self-report measures of their family and peer relationships in grades 10–12; 7 years later, they reported on connectedness, discord, and the conflict tactics used by both partners in their current romantic relationships. Family relationship quality in adolescence predicted the levels of connectedness, discord, and specific conflict behaviors youth reported in their adult romantic relationships. The use of discussion to resolve conflict mediated the association between adolescent family relationships and the level of connectedness in adult romantic relationships. Moreover, use of discussion and physical conflict/threat each partially mediated the effect of family relationship quality on romantic discord. Possible mechanisms linking family of origin relationships to adult romantic relationships are discussed.

Although research has identified interpersonal difficulties as risk factors for adolescent suicidality, parent and peer relationships are often assessed as discrete risk domains. The current study uses a social network approach to assess individual differences in the degree to which a clinical sample of 129 adolescents being treated for suicidal ideation rely on parents or peers for their attachment needs. Youth who affiliated with deviant peers were more likely to: (a) report greater intensity (increased frequency and duration and decreased controllability) of their suicide ideation, and (b) identify peers rather than adults as attachment figures. Adolescents’ peer relationships are associated with suicide ideation intensity in a clinical sample of suicidal and depressed adolescents.

The aim of this investigation was to examine whether adolescent attachment representation (as assessed using the Adult Attachment Interview) is linked to the quality of adolescents' peer relations (as assessed using a standard battery of peer-report instruments tapping adolescents' social behaviors, peer victimization, social acceptance, and sociometric status). As expected, secure/autonomous adolescents were more likely than insecure/dismissing adolescents to be perceived as behaving prosocially, and less likely to be perceived as aggressive, shy-withdrawn, and victimized by peers. Other findings indicated that insecure/dismissing adolescents, compared to secure/autonomous adolescents, were less likely to be socially accepted by their peers. In addition, insecure/dismissing girls, compared to secure/autonomous girls, were more likely to be neglected; no attachment group differences emerged for boys, or for peer rejection.

This study applies the theory of positive youth development (Lerner et al., 2010) and the youth systems framework (Varga & Zaff, 2018) to the examination of supportive peer and adult relationships across multiple contexts in which youth develop. Results of egocentric social network analysis indicated that high school-aged youth nominated significantly more adults than middle school-aged youth. Peers and adults both acted as important sources of support, although often the types of support they offer differ. Outdegree centrality of peers was a significant predictor of character. The size of a participant's youth system, measured as the number of contexts accessed, along with average closeness in adult relationships, was a significant predictor of contribution. Thematic analysis of interview data identified four themes, aligned with the five actions of developmental relationships, as contributing factors to youth-adultcloseness and youth perceptions of support (Pekel et al., 2018). Implications for youth-adultrelationships are discussed.

Investigators have long recognized that adolescents' peer experiences provide a crucial context for the acquisition of developmental competencies, as well as potential risks for a range of adjustment difficulties. However, recent years have seen an exponential increase in adolescents' adoption of social media tools, fundamentally reshaping the landscape of adolescent peer interactions. Although research has begun to examine social media use among adolescents, researchers have lacked a unifying framework for understanding the impact of social media on adolescents' peer experiences. This paper represents Part 1 of a two-part theoretical review, in which we offer a transformation framework to integrate interdisciplinary social media scholarship and guide future work on social media use and peer relations from a theory-driven perspective. We draw on prior conceptualizations of social media as a distinct interpersonal context and apply this understanding to adolescents' peer experiences, outlining features of social media with particular relevance to adolescent peer relations. We argue that social media transforms adolescent peer relationships in five key ways: by changing the frequency or immediacy of experiences, amplifying experiences and demands, altering the qualitative nature of interactions, facilitating new opportunities for compensatory behaviors, and creating entirely novel behaviors. We offer an illustration of the transformation framework applied to adolescents' dyadic friendship processes (i.e., experiences typically occurring between two individuals), reviewing existing evidence and offering theoretical implications. Overall, the transformation framework represents a departure from the prevailing approaches of prior peer relations work and a new model for understanding peer relations in the social media context.

Childhood Physical Abuse and Adolescent Poor Peer Relations: A Study of Mediation by Interpersonal Factors in Two Developmental Periods Erica C. Chin Childhood physical abuse has been studied for almost 50 years now, resulting in rich knowledge about the immediate and long-term effects on development. For the most part, research has focused on understanding childhood physical abuse as a risk factor for psychopathology, including depression and antisocial behaviors, as such outcomes have clear consequences and costs for society as a whole. However, outcomes related to general social functioning and, more specifically, intimate relationship functioning are also important to study as they may contribute to perpetuation of violence. Children with histories of physical abuse are more likely to have difficulties with multiple aspects of interpersonal functioning, including how they relate to their parents and peers, how they perceive their social worlds, and how they are perceived by others. Given that preadolescence and adolescence are developmental periods when social relationships are particularly important, examining the role of interpersonal factors during these times may provide new insight into understanding the link between childhood physical abuse and later problems in peer relations. As such, the present study hypothesized that various aspects of interpersonal functioning in preadolescence and adolescence within the domains of attachment, social behavior, social cognition, and social status, mediate the relationship between childhood physical abuse and adolescent social functioning in general and with romantic partners more specifically. Seventy-five adolescents with a history of childhood physical abuse on the New York City Register and 78 matched classmate controls were studied at age 10.5 years and 16.5 years. During both phases, data were collected from the subjects, teachers, parents, and peers. Problematic attachment to parents, aggression, social misperception, and peer rejection status, all during preadolescence, were expected to partially explain the relationship between childhood physical abuse and adolescent poor peer relations. Changes in problematic attachment to parents and aggression from preadolescence to adolescence were also expected to partially explain this relationship. Hierarchical and logistic regression analyses indicated that social misperception and aggression were both significant mediators of the relationship between childhood physical abuse and adolescent poor peer relations. Findings indicated social misperception during preadolescence partially explained the association between childhood physical abuse and adolescent social problems in general, and more specifically the association between childhood physical abuse and problematic intimate relationship functioning (i.e., dating violence). Findings also indicated that preadolescent aggression partially mediated the relationship between childhood physical abuse and adolescent general social problems. Contrary to expectations, neither problematic attachment to parents nor peer rejection status was found to significantly mediate the relationship between preadolescent physical abuse and adolescent poor peer relations. Changes from preadolescence to adolescence in problematic attachment and aggression were also found to be nonsignificant mediators. Of note, change in problematic attachment over time predicted dating violence in adolescence. Findings are discussed within the context of implications for intervention and future research directions.

Grounded in a biosocial model, this study examines the interaction between adolescents' testosterone levels and qualities of the parent-adolescent and sibling-adolescent relationship in adolescents' peer experiences and contributes to empirical research on the role of biological factors and family socialization processes in adolescents' peer competence and involvement. Participants included 331 adolescents (M = 14.68 years of age, SD = 1.53) and their mothers and fathers in 173 families. During home visits, data were collected from family members regarding adolescents' family relationships, peer relationships, and psychosocial adjustment; daily time-use data were gathered during a series of 7 nightly phone interviews; and testosterone levels were assessed through saliva samples. Hierarchical regression results revealed that when boys had close relationships with mothers and sisters, testosterone was positively associated with their peer competence and involvement. Discussion focuses on the value of exploring biosocial interactions and highlights the particular importance of boys' relationships with opposite-sex family members in efforts to understand their peer experiences.

Objective This study focused on the longitudinal associations between self-esteem and peer relationships in Korean adolescents while considering gender and timing—early and late adolescence—differences. Methods The study made use of data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey. Three waves of data collected from 2,351 adolescents were analyzed by means of autoregressive cross-lagged modeling. Results The results indicated that self-esteem predicted subsequent changes in peer relationship but not vice versa. Further, the results that longitudinal associations between self-esteem and peer relationships differed between male and female adolescents and between early and late adolescence. Conclusion The findings revaluated the longitudinal relationship between self-esteem and peer relationships. Both gender and timing should be considered when planning interventions related issues about self-esteem and peer relationships in adolescence. Keywords: adolescence, self-esteem, peer relationships, autoregressive cross-lagged modeling

The role of peer relationships in supporting or hindering adolescents' talent development has received little research attention, despite the importance of peers in adolescents' lives. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 41 adolescents talented in sports or the arts, and their parents, to investigate (a) the role of peer relationships in adolescents' continued involvement in their talent activities, (b) possible differences in this role by activity domain, and (c) possible gender differences. Thematic analysis indicated that peers typically played a positive function in supporting the continued involvement of talented adolescents in their talent activities. There were differences in opportunities for peer relationships and social satisfaction between in-school and out-of school activities, but not between activity domains. Both males and females mentioned equally social benefits of such involvement. However, females mentioned receiving negative peer attention more frequently than males, and more often cited social dissatisfaction as a significant contributor to decreased involvement or quitting.

This article addresses some of the key considerations and complexities associated with intervening to address social competence and peer relationships of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in middle and high school settings. First, we provide a brief overview of the social context during adolescence for all students. Next, we highlight particular challenges for adolescents with ASD. Then, we discuss potential school-based intervention pathways that appear particularly responsive to these contexts and challenges. Finally, we offer several recommendations for research and practice aimed at improving the social competence and connections of young people with ASD—during high school and into early adulthood.

This study examined the effects of group art therapy on self-concept and peer relationships among adolescents using a mixed-method approach. Twelve recruited adolescents from a high school in Northern Taiwan attended weekly 2-h group art therapy sessions for 8weeks. Through a discovery-oriented approach incorporating focus group interviews and individual interviews, qualitative results revealed that the participants started getting to know themselves better and were able to explore their inner selves while noticing their own emotions. Their self-concept also became more positive along with reduced negative self-concept, increased positive self-concept, and clearer visions towards future goals. Furthermore, the therapy modified adolescents' negative peer relationships by reducing their social anxiety and adjusting their complicated experiences. Participants were found to experience trustable, allied, and compassionate positive peer relationships while having reduced loneliness and improved social skills at the same time. Besides, the participants answered self-concept and peer relationship scales at pre- and post-interventions as well as a 12-month follow-up thereafter. Friedman test on the longitudinal data showed participants reporting consistently higher self-concept and peer relationship at post-intervention and 12-month follow-up than at the pre-intervention stage. Taken together, the findings duly support art therapy in boosting adolescents' self-concept and peer relationships.

Aim: This study is aimed at determining the effect of peer relationships on smartphone addiction among adolescents. 
 Material and Method: This cross-sectional study’s population was composed of students in the high schools of the Directorate of National Education in the city center of Batman province. For the sample, three high schools (3000 students) were selected by using the method of drawing lots in terms of the student intensity from the Provincial Directorate for National Education. The sample size was calculated as 707 students based on the power analysis. In the study, “Introductory Information Form”, “Peer Relationship Scale”, and “Smartphone Addiction Scale” were used. The data collection process took place between May 2018 and June 2018. Percentage distribution, mean, independent samples t-test, analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis and regression analysis were employed to assess the data. 
 Results: The participants’ total mean scores were 45.61±11.93 in Peer Relationship Scale and 28.93±12.61 in Smartphone Addiction Scale. Peer relationships of the adolescents influenced smartphone addiction at the rate of 38% (p˂0.05).
 Conclusion and Recommendations: It was concluded that peer relationships and smartphone addictions of the adolescents were moderate. Peer relationships of the adolescents affected smartphone addition. In the study, it is recommended to inform the students and to organize trainings by the psychiatric nurses to increase the peer relationships of adolescents and decrease their smartphone addiction.

This study was designed to examine whether family and peer relationships in adolescence predict the emergence of metabolic risk factors in young adulthood. Participants from a large, nationally representative cohort study (N = 11,617 for these analyses) reported on their relationship experiences with parents and close friends during adolescence. Fourteen years later, interviewers collected blood samples, as well as anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Blood samples were analyzed for HbA1c. Ordered logistic regressions revealed that for females, supportive parent-child relationships and close male friendships in adolescence were associated with reduced odds of having elevated metabolic risk markers in young adulthood. These effects remained significant even after controlling for baseline measures of body mass index (BMI) and health and demographic covariates. The protective effects of close relationships were not significant for males, however. Exploratory analyses with 2-parent families revealed that supportive father-child relationships were especially protective for females. These findings suggest that, for females, close and supportive relationships with parents and male friends in adolescence may reduce the risk of metabolic dysregulation in adulthood.

Although health effects of social relationships are well-researched, long-term health consequences of adolescent family as well as peer relationships are poorly understood. The aim of the study was to explore the prospective importance of parental and peer social relationships in adolescence on internalising and functional somatic symptoms in adulthood. Data were drawn from four waves of the Northern Swedish Cohort Study, response rate 94.3%, N=1001. Outcome variables were internalising and functional somatic symptoms at the ages of 21, 30 and 42. Relationship variables at age 16 were poor parental contact and three indicators of poor peer relationships. Associations were assessed in multivariate ordinal logistic regressions with adjustment for confounders and baseline health. Results show that the main relationships-related predictors of adult internalising symptoms were self-rated poor peer relationships in terms of spending time alone during after-school hours and poor parental relationship. Functional somatic symptoms on the other hand were most strongly associated with poor parental contact and not being happy with classmates at age 16. The quality of parental and peer relationships in adolescence predicts adult mental and functional somatic health as much as 26 years later, even when accounting for confounders and adolescent symptomatology. This study extends past research by exploring how both adolescent parental and peer relationships (self-reported as well as teacher reported) predict adult self-reported health.