Early adolescents' parent–child communication and friendship quality: A cross-lagged analysis

Abstract

This study explored the two-way relationship between parent–child communication and the friendship quality of early adolescents, as well as the stability of these constructs and of gender differences, using a cross-lagged analysis. We conducted a 10-month follow-up study with 842 adolescents using the Parent–Adolescent Communication Scale and the Friendship Quality Questionnaire. Results show that both father–child and mother–child communication at Time 1 significantly and positively predicted friendship quality in early adolescence as measured at Time 2; that is, the better was parent–child communication at Time 1, the higher was the friendship quality in early adolescence at Time 2. However, friendship quality at Time 1 did not significantly predict parent–child at Time 2. Additionally, parent–child communication and friendship quality were better among children in seventh compared to eighth grade. Girls' friendship quality was higher than that of boys, whereas boys' parent–child communication was better than that of girls.