Linking family relationships with peer relationships based on spillover theory: A positive perspective

Abstract

This study employed a cross-sectional design to investigate the direct and indirect linkages between family relationships (i.e., interparental, mother–child, and father−child closeness) and peer relationships (i.e., social preference and the number of friendships) based on spillover theory from a positive perspective. Data were collected in 2016. The participants included 992 fourth to ninth graders ( Mage = 12.6 years, 48.1% male) and their parents in China. Parents’ and children’s self-report measures for family relationships and children’s love and sociometric methods for peer relationships were used. The results of a path analysis show the following: (1) mother–child closeness was directly linked to children being preferred by peers; (2) interparental, mother–child, and father–child closeness were indirectly and positively linked to social preference and the number of friendships through children’s love, in addition, interparental closeness was linked to the number of friendships through mother-child closeness; and (3) multigroup analyses reveal several developmental differences in the indirect family–peer relationship. The implications of these findings are discussed.