Adolescent Social Relationships Research Articles

Family Meal Environment Differentially Conditions the Prospective Association between Early Childhood Screen Time and Key Social Relationships in Adolescent Girls.

Background: Despite screen time recommendations, children are increasingly spending time on electronic devices, rendering it an important risk factor for subsequent social and developmental outcomes. Sharing meals could offer a way to promote psychosocial development. This study examines the interaction between family meal environment and early childhood screen time on key adolescent social relationships. Methods: Participants are 1455 millennial children (49% boys) from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development birth cohort. Parents reported on child screen use at ages 2 and 6 years and family meal environment quality at age 6 years. Parents and children reported on parent-child relationships and peer victimization experiences, respectively, at age 13 years. Sex-stratified multiple regression estimated the direct association between screen time trends, family meal environment quality, and their interaction on later social relationship outcomes. Results: For girls, when preschool screen time increased, sharing family meals in high-quality environments was associated with more positive and less conflictual relationships with their mothers, whereas meals shared in low- and moderate-quality environments were associated with fewer instances of victimization by their peers. Non-linear associations were not significant for boys. Conclusion: Capitalizing on family meal environment represents a simple/cost-efficient activity that can compensate for some long-term risks associated with increased screen use, above and beyond pre-existing and concurrent individual and family characteristics. Public health initiatives may benefit from considering family meals as a complementary intervention strategy to screen use guidelines.

The role of adolescent social relationships in promoting alcohol resistance: Interrupting the intergenerational transmission of alcohol misuse.

Genetic factors contribute to the intergenerational transmission of alcohol misuse, but not all individuals at high genetic risk develop problems. The present study examined adolescent relationships with parents, peers, and romantic partners as predictors of realized resistance, defined as high biological risk for disorder combined with a healthy outcome, to alcohol initiation, heavy episodic drinking, and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Data were from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (N = 1,858; 49.9% female; mean age at baseline = 13.91 years). Genetic risk, indexed using family history density and polygenic risk scores for alcohol problems and AUD, was used to define alcohol resistance. Adolescent predictors included parent-child relationship quality, parental monitoring, peer drinking, romantic partner drinking, and social competence. There was little support for the hypothesis that social relationship factors would promote alcohol resistance, with the exception that higher father-child relationship quality was associated with higher resistance to alcohol initiation ( , 95% CI = -0.35, -0.03). Unexpectedly, social competence was associated with lower resistance to heavy episodic drinking ( , 95% CI = 0.01, 0.20). This pattern of largely null effects underscores how little is known about resistance processes among those at high genetic risk for AUD.

Role of social capital in adolescents’ online gaming: A longitudinal study focused on the moderating effect of social capital between gaming time and psychosocial factors

Adolescents often create social relationships with their gaming peers who take on the role of offline friends and peer groups. Through collaboration and competition in the games, the social relationships of adolescents are becoming broader and thicker. Although this is a common phenomenon in online games, few studies have focused on the formation and roles of social capital among adolescent gamers. In particular, longitudinal research that examines the role of social capital in terms of influencing gaming time on adolescent gamers’ psychosocial factors has been minimal. This study was designed to fill this gap to see the long-term effect of social capital among adolescent gamers. Specifically, by using the three-year longitudinal data involving 403 adolescents, we analyzed the effect of gaming time on psychological factors (i.e., loneliness, depression, self-esteem, and life satisfaction) with the moderating role of social capital. Results showed that social capital played a crucial moderating role. In the higher social capital group, gaming time enhanced the degree of self-esteem and life satisfaction. However, a vicious circle was found in the lower social capital group: Gaming time increased the degree of depression but decreased self-esteem, which in turn led to increase in gaming time. These results indicate that games work as an important tool for social capital cultivation among adolescent gamers, which imply successful cultivation of social capital is a key to positive gaming effects. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

MENINGKATKAN KOMUNIKASI ASERTIF DALAM RELASI SOSIAL PADA REMAJA DI PANTI ASUHAN SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGE SEMARANG

Adolescence is a period when someone begins to build broader social relationships and make decisions independently. However, many cases of adolescent social relationships actually provide negative experiences that hinder their development and threaten their future. Adolescents who live in orphanage have greater vulnerability to trapped in unhealthy social relationships. Assertiveness is the quality of a person to believe in himself, being able to communicate his thoughts, feelings, and emotions without driven by fear of others. Assertiveness assistance to adolescents in orphanages is important because assertiveness is a complement to the values ​​and norms they receive in schools and orphanages. Without assertiveness, their knowledge of values and norms will not be effective. Assertiveness is a psychological construct that can be changed through a behavioral intervention program. With this assertiveness assistance program,we hope adolescents in orphanage could develop positive social relationships and reject negative invitations or pressures that make them trapped in unhealthy relationships, so that their future could be better.

Teen dating violence: From analyzing the problem to finding solutions.

Teen dating violence: From analyzing the problem to finding solutions.

An ecological latent class model of adolescent risk and protective factors: Implications for substance use and depression prevention

To provide a comprehensive view of the unique contexts shaping adolescent development in the U.S., we utilized latent class analysis (LCA) with indicators of risk and protection across multiple domains (family, peers, school, neighborhood) and examined how latent class membership predicted heavy episodic drinking, illicit substance use, and depression in adolescence and 6 years later when participants were young adults. Data came from Wave 1 (W1) and Wave 3 (W3) of the nationally representative U.S.-based Add Health study (N = 6,649; Mage W1 = 14.06; Mage W3 = 20.38; 53.8% female; 56.1% White/European American, 22.8% Black/African American, 9.5% Hispanic, 6.7% Biracial, Asian or Pacific Islander 4.2%, American Indian/Native American 0.7%). A six-class solution was selected with classes named: Two Parent: Low Risk, Two Parent: Relationship Risks, Two Parent: Neighborhood Risks, Single Parent: Low Risk, Single Parent: Relationship Risks, and Single Parent: Multidimensional Risk. Subsequent analyses suggested that adolescent social relationships are particularly important for prevention interventions as the classes marked by substance using peers and a lack of closeness to parents and teachers in adolescence (Two Parent: Relationship Risks and Single Parent: Relationship Risks) had consistently poorer outcomes in adolescence and young adulthood.

Paranoia in patients attending child and adolescent mental health services.

Objective:Paranoia may be particularly prevalent during adolescence, building on the heightened social vulnerabilities at this age. Excessive mistrust may be corrosive for adolescent social relationships, especially in the context of mental health disorders. We set out to examine the prevalence, symptom associations, and persistence of paranoia in a cohort of young people attending child and adolescent mental health services.Method:A total of 301 patients (11–17 years old) completed measures of paranoia, affect, peer difficulties and behavioural problems. Clinicians also rated each participant’s psychiatric symptoms. Patterns of association were examined using linear regressions and network analyses. In total, 105 patients repeated the measures several months later.Results:Most of the adolescents had affective disorders (n = 195), self-harm/suicidality (n = 82), or neurodevelopmental conditions (n = 125). Few had suspected psychosis (n = 7). Rates of paranoia were approximately double compared with previous reports from the general population. In this patient sample, 35% had at least elevated paranoia, 15% had at least moderate paranoia, and 6% had high paranoia. Paranoia had moderate associations with clinician-rated peer difficulties, self-harm, and trauma, and small associations with clinician-rated social anxiety, depression, generalised anxiety, and educational problems. Network analyses showed paranoia had the strongest unique relationship with peer difficulties. Paths from peer difficulties to anxiety, self-harm, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and behavioural problems were all via paranoia. Both self-harm and post-traumatic stress disorder were solely associated with paranoia in the network. Paranoia remained persistent for three-quarters and was associated with greater psychological problems over time.Conclusion:Paranoia is relatively common and persistent across a range of clinical presentations in youth. When paranoia occurs alongside emotional problems, important peer interactions may be adversely affected. Wider consideration of paranoia in adolescent patients is needed.

Disengaged and highly harsh? Perceived parenting profiles, narcissism, and loneliness among adolescents from divorced families

Guided by a socio-ecological framework, the current study explores perceived parenting profiles among adolescents from divorced and intact families, and examines whether these perceived parenting profiles may vary with correspondence to different family structures (divorced vs. intact). Moreover, this study investigates the associations of perceived parenting profiles, narcissism, and family structures with loneliness. A total of 237 adolescents (59% girls; Mage = 15.56; SD = 1.58) who experienced parental divorce, and 444 socio-demographically matched peers from intact families (66% girls; Mage = 15.68; SD = 1.58) were involved in this study. These adolescents were asked to complete a battery of self-report questionnaires during school hours. The findings showed four perceived parenting profiles: disengaged, supportive, harsh, and highly harsh. Adolescents from divorced families overrepresented in the disengaged profile and the highly harsh profile, whereas adolescents from intact families overrepresented in the supportive profile. Moreover, moderation analyses showed that, among those sorted into the highly harsh parental profile (vs. the harsh profile), post-divorce adolescents with higher levels of narcissism exhibited lower levels of loneliness than those reporting lower levels of narcissism. The current study indicates that narcissism presents a protective pattern for post-divorce adolescent social relationships, when parents are highly harsh in disciplining them.

The Classmates Social Isolation Questionnaire for Adolescents (CSIQ-A): Validation and Invariance across Immigrant Background, Gender and Socioeconomic Level

It is widely acknowledged that the social relationships of adolescents with their classmates can have a significant impact on their adjustment to the school environment and their psychological well-being. This study, based on a random sample of 36,712 students, investigates the psychometric properties and the validity of the Classmates Social Isolation Questionnaire for Adolescents (CSIQ-A), a time-efficient instrument intended to measure peer relatedness at school. Confirmatory factor analysis established the bidimensional structure of the scale. The CSIQ-A showed measurement invariance across gender and across students with different immigrant backgrounds and socioeconomic status. A positive correlation between peer acceptance, peer friendship and positive affect provided support for the criterion validity of the measure. The CSIQ-A proved to be a psychometrically sound measure, which can be reliably used with adolescents with different sociodemographic and cultural characteristics. In conclusion, the CSIQ-A makes it possible to directly measure the effects of classroom interventions that are aimed at promoting peer relatedness and preventing social isolation.

Social relationships in adolescence and heavy episodic drinking from youth to midlife in Finland and Sweden\xa0\u2014\xa0examining the role of individual, contextual and temporal factors

BackgroundApplying the Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) model of the bioecological theory, this study considers whether proximal processes between the individual and the microsystem (social relationships within family, peer group and school) during adolescence are associated with heavy episodic drinking (HED), from youth to midlife, and whether the macro level context (country) plays a role in these associations.MethodsParticipants of two prospective cohort studies from Finland and Sweden, recruited in 1983/1981 at age 16 (n = 2194/1080), were followed-up until their forties using postal questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between social relationships at age 16 and HED (at least monthly intoxication or having six or more units of alcohol in one occasion) at ages 22/21, 32/30 and 42/43. Additive interactions between microsystem settings, as well as between settings and country, were also considered.ResultsConsistent with the PPCT model, we found individual, contextual and temporal aspects to be associated with drinking habits. Higher levels of poor family relationships were associated with an increased likelihood of HED (ages 22/21 and 32/30) in both Finnish women and men and Swedish men. Higher levels of peer contact were associated with an increased likelihood of HED in both Finnish women (ages 32 and 42) and men (ages 22 and 32), and Swedish men (age 21). In contrast with the other groups, poorer relationships with classmates were associated with an increased likelihood of HED (age 30) for Swedish women only. For women, the combined effect of having both daily peer contact and living in Finland for HED at age 42/43 was statistically distinguishable from a pure additive effect.ConclusionsMicro and to a lesser extent macro level contexts are associated with heavy episodic drinking well into adulthood. The most relevant processes in the adolescent microsystem occur in family and peer settings. However, long-lasting protective or risk-raising effects between different settings and later HED were not found. Promoting good relationships across different contexts during adolescence may reduce the incidence of HED in adulthood.

Adolescent predictors of social and coping drinking motives in early adulthood

Although motivations to use alcohol have been shown to predict alcohol use and alcohol-related problems, little is known about how drinking motives develop. This study identified antecedents in adolescence of social and coping motives for drinking in early adulthood. Data came from a longitudinal study of youths in the eastern U.S. (N = 451) followed from secondary school into early adulthood (52.4% female; Mage = 23.01; SD = 1.03). In a structural equation analysis, frequency of drunkenness and peer alcohol use positively predicted young adult social motives, whereas only frequency of drunkenness predicted coping motives. These findings indicate that alcohol use behaviors and social relationships in adolescence may contribute to the development of adult drinking motives.

The relationship between parent mental health and intimate partner violence on adolescent behavior, stigma and school attendance in families in rural Democratic Republic of Congo.

Prolonged conflict and economic instability challenge the existing support networks in families and society places significant stress on both adults and adolescents. Exploring individual, family and social factors that increase the likelihood of or protect adolescents from negative outcomes are important to the development of evidence-based prevention and response programing in global settings. Examine the relationship between parent mental health and experience/perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) and adolescent behaviors, stigma, and school attendance. The relationship is further examined for differences by gender. Secondary analysis of data from an ongoing comparative effectiveness trial of a productive asset transfer program in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Three hundred and eighty-eight adolescent and parent dyads were included in the analysis. The analysis demonstrated that parent mental health and IPV can have a negative impact their children's well-being and the impact is different for boys and girls, likely linked to gender roles and responsibilities in the home and community. Social relationships of adolescents, as reported through experienced stigma, were negatively impacted for both boys and girls. Parent report of symptoms of PTSD and depression had a stronger negative effect on girls' outcomes, including experienced stigma, externalizing behaviors, and missed days of school than boys. For adolescent boys, their parent's report of IPV victimization/perpetration was associated with more negative behaviors at the 8-month follow-up assessment. The findings reinforce the critical importance of interventions that engage parents and their children in activities that advance health and improve relationships within the family.

The body remembers: Adolescent conflict struggles predict adult interleukin-6 levels.

Struggles managing conflict and hostility in adolescent social relationships were examined as long-term predictors of immune-mediated inflammation in adulthood that has been linked to long-term health outcomes. Circulating levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a marker of immune system dysfunction when chronically elevated, were assessed at age 28 in a community sample of 127 individuals followed via multiple methods and reporters from ages 13 to 28. Adult serum IL-6 levels were predicted across periods as long as 15 years by adolescents' inability to defuse peer aggression and poor peer-rated conflict resolution skills, and by independently observed romantic partner hostility in late adolescence. Adult relationship difficulties also predicted higher IL-6 levels but did not mediate predictions from adolescent-era conflict struggles. Predictions were also not mediated by adult trait hostility or aggressive behavior, suggesting the unique role of struggles with conflict and hostility from others during adolescence. The implications for understanding the import of adolescent peer relationships for life span physical health outcomes are considered.

VIOLENT OFFENDING AND VICTIMIZATION IN ADOLESCENCE: SOCIAL NETWORK MECHANISMS AND HOMOPHILY*

Although violent offending and victimization share many features, they can affect adolescent social relationships in distinct ways. To understand these differences, we take a network approach to examine the mechanisms responsible for similarities (i.e., homophily) in violent offending and violent victimization among friends. Our goal is to determine whether the social network mechanisms that produce homophily for violent offending are similar to or different from those that produce homophily for violent victimization. By using stochastic actor‐oriented modeling and two waves of friendship network data for 1,948 respondents from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we examine homophily mechanisms of preference for similarity, avoidance, and influence with respect to youth violence and victimization. The results demonstrate that homophily observed for violent offending primarily reflects selection of similar others, whereas homophily observed for victimization reflects the tendency among alters to avoid victimized youth. These findings have important implications for future research and suggest that, among adolescents, violent offending and victimization homophily are the result of unique social processes.

Oral health and quality of life: an epidemiological survey of adolescents from settlement in Pontal do Paranapanema/SP, Brazil.

This study aimed to verify oral health, treatment needs, dental service accessibility, and impact of oral health on quality of life (QL) of subjects from settlement in Pontal do Paranapanema/SP, Brazil. In this epidemiological survey, 180 10-to 19- years old adolescents enrolled in the school that attend this population in settlement underwent oral examination, to verify caries index (DMFT- decayed, missing and filled teeth) and periodontal condition (CPI), and were interviewed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref) and Oral Impact Daily Performance (OIDP) instruments to evaluate QL, and the Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS) about dental service accessibility. DMFT average was 5.49 (± 3.33). Overall, 37.2% of participants showed periodontal problems, mainly CPI = 1 (77.7%). Treatment needs were mainly restorations. GSHS showed that the last dental consultation occurred > 1 year previously for 58.3% of participants at a public health center (78.9%). The average WHOQOL-Bref was 87.59 (± 15.23). Social relationships were related to dental caries and health service type. The average OIDP was 6.49 (± 9.15). The prevalence of caries was high and observed periodontal problems were reversible. The social relationships of adolescents from settlement were influenced by caries and health services type.

How well do parental and peer relationships in adolescence predict health 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.

Linking friendship quality and peer group acceptance in adolescence

Peer acceptance and and friendships are different but related aspects of social relationships in adolescence (Bukowski at al., 1996). Friendship quality is considered as an essential element that describes friendship and it is easy to assess empirically. According to J. G. Parker and S. R. Asher (1993) it is defined as a complex of the six components: validation and care, conflict and betrayal, companionship and recreation, help and guidance, intimate exchange and confict resolution. This article deals with the relationship between peer group acceptance and friedship quality in adolescents. The aim of the study presented in this article was to examine the different aspects of friendship quality in young adolescents and delineate gender differences in
 the association between the sociometric status and friendship quality. The sample consisted of 225 adolescents aged 12 to 14. According to the J.D. Coie and K. A. Dodge (1983) technique of sociometric research the sample was divided into three subgroups: high, average and low accepted adolescents by peer group. All adolescents filled in the Frienddship Quality Questionnaire (Parker and Asher, 1989) as well as two additional questions that assess the friendship satisfaction. The results revealed different friendship quality patterns among low accepted and high-average accepted adolescents. Rejected adolescents showed low scores on Intimate exchange and Help and quidance subscales but other subscales’ scores did not differ significantly. The overal satisfaction with friendship was also significantly lower among rejected adolescents. Gender differences analysis revealed girls’ friendship quality scores being higher on all subscales. The more detailed analysis of gender differences in three subgroups according the sociometric status showed no differences among high, average and low accepted boys. However, low accepted girls showed lower scores on two subscales – Companionship and recreation and Help and guidance. Also, general satisfaction with their best friendship was lower when compared to average and high accepted girls. The results obtained are discussed in comparison with the findings of other uathors as well as interpreted within a framework of psychological characteristics that distinguish among adolescents with differing status in a peer group.

Adolescent Social Relationships and the Treatment Process: Findings from Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses

Juvenile justice systems increasingly rely on placement of substance-involved adolescents in residential group homes. Research finds differences in pathways to drug abuse, but few studies explore whether gender differences affect treatment response. We describe the association between girls' and boys' relationship patterns and their experiences in treatment. Data come from a quantitative study of 449 criminally involved adolescents mandated to residential treatment programs throughout Los Angeles, and 30 semi-structured interviews with a similar group of seven boys and three girls attending a residential treatment program. Quantitative data show that girls had more problematic families and peers and reported more depressive symptoms than boys. Qualitative data indicate that girls' pretreatment networks were almost exclusively comprised of older males acting as “protectors” and sexual partners, while boys' included same-sex, same-aged peers. Girls emphasized sexuality in their discussions of in-treatment relationships and had difficulty developing friendships with other girls in the program. Our findings highlight gender differences in relationship patterns that merit further study as potentially important influences on adolescents' treatment responses.

The co-occurrence of depression and substance abuse in late adolescence.

This article examines the role of adolescent social relationships in fostering the occurrence and co-occurrence of depression and substance abuse, using two waves of data from a community sample of adolescents (N = 900). Multinomial logistic response models were estimated to identify the extent to which risk and protective features of youths' family and peer relations were differentially linked with depressive symptoms, substance abuse, and their co-occurrence. Taking a within-person, configurational approach to adolescent adaptation, contrasts involved four subgroups of adolescents: those high on both depressed mood and substance abuse, those who experience neither problem, those evidencing high levels of depressive symptoms only, and those high on substance abuse only. Risk for depressive symptoms was differentiated by its association with conflict and lack of support in the friendship domain. Substance abuse was associated with negative peer pressure, but these youth were otherwise little different from youths with no problems. Whereas co-occurrence of depression and substance use was associated with more difficulties in both the family and peer environments, the most distinctive risk was that of low family support. Discussion centers on the developmental antecedents of co-occurring problems and family relations during adolescence.

The Stability of Social Groups in Childhood and Adolescence: The Role of the Classroom Social Environment.

AbstractThis study provides a developmental analysis of childhood and adolescent social relationships within the school context. The social groups of 220 fourth graders and 475 seventh graders were tracked over a one year interval. The initial results indicated that approximately 30% of the social groups were identified as stable in that they maintained at least 50% of their membership over the one year interval. However, the stability in group affiliations was a function of the stability of the composition of the classroom. When schools did not promote classrooms as a unit, only 6.8% of social groups were stable, as compared to 55% of groups being stable when the school did promote classrooms as a unit. This school effect in group stability was demonstrated by a high correlation (rs = .97) between classroom stability and group stability. Even in unstable classrooms, individuals were more likely to maintain affiliations when group members were assigned to the same classroom. This work suggests that stable environments promote stable relationships, which in turn, may promote greater continuity in the organization of behavioral patterns.