Quality Of Peer Relationships Research Articles

Modifiable protective factors for mental health resilience in the offspring of depressed parents: A high‐risk longitudinal cohort spanning adolescence and adulthood

AbstractBackgroundSeveral protective factors have been identified for mental health (MH) resilience in adolescent offspring of depressed parents. However, it is unclear if these effects persist into adulthood.MethodsDepressed parents and their offspring (N = 188) from the Early Prediction of Adolescent Depression study were assessed four times (mean offspring ages 12.39, 13.77, 14.82, and 23.41). Mental health resilience was examined using residual scores (better‐than‐expected mood‐, behaviour‐, or anxiety‐related MH at mean age 23 given risk exposure), and categorically as sustained good MH across adolescence and young adulthood.ResultsOnly 9.2% of young adults demonstrated sustained good MH. Parents of resilient individuals showed lower comorbidity (anxiety, antisocial behaviour and harmful drinking) and higher depression remission. Considering adolescent protective factors, weak evidence was observed of associations of mood‐resilience with adolescent peer‐relationship quality (β = −0.20, 95%CI:−0.36, −0.04); friendship quality (β = −0.14, 95%CI:−0.31, 0.02); risk adjustment (β = −0.16, 95%CI:‐0.34, 0.03) and dysfunctional attitudes (β = 0.18, 95%CI:0.01, 0.35). There was weak evidence of behavioural‐resilience association with parent positive expressed emotion (β = −0.15, 95%CI:−0.31, 0.02) and offspring exercise (β = −0.37, 95%CI:−0.77, 0.03). No adolescent protective factors showed an association with anxiety‐resilience. For sustained good MH, there was weak evidence of an association with inhibitory control (OR = 0.39, 95%CI:0.14, 1.07). Strong evidence was observed for associations between young adult‐reported peer relationship quality and mood‐resilience (β = −0.35, 95%CI:−0.53, −0.17), behavioural‐resilience (β = −0.33, 95%CI:−0.51, −0.14) and anxiety‐resilience (β = −0.34, 95%CI:−0.53, −0.14), while weak evidence was observed of an association of social activities with anxiety‐resilience (β = −0.51, 95%CI:−0.97, −0.06).ConclusionsWe found limited evidence for the long‐lasting effects of adolescent protective factors on adult MH resilience. Social factors remained protective into young adulthood, while family factors did not. Early preventative intervention might not be sufficient to maintain good long‐term MH, and young people will likely require more prolonged support.

Perceived quality of peer relationships and position in peer network from late childhood to early adolescence: A three-wave longitudinal study with cross-lagged panel model

Objective: The main aim of this study was to investigate the mutual relationship between perceptions of peer relationship quality and position in positive and negative peer networks among young people from late childhood to early adolescence. Method: A cross-lagged panel model of three waves of data was conducted using a large representative sample of Polish students from third grade to sixth grade ( N = 4 673). Results: The results proved a reciprocal relationship between position in positive (Like) and negative (DisLike) peer networks and the perceived quality of peer relationships (PPI). The effect found of position on the perceived quality of peer relationships is in line with the existing state of knowledge. Since previous research has yielded divergent results, this demonstration of the prospective impact of perceived relationship quality on peer network position fills an important cognitive gap. The study also revealed the following: (1) in the first (W1→W2) and second period (W2→W3) the strength of the prospective effects of position in the peer network on its perceived quality (Like→PPI and DisLike→PPI), and the strength of the prospective effects of perceived quality on position (PPI→Like and PPI→DisLike), were not statistically significantly different; (2) the effect size of the cross-lagged coefficients ranged from small to medium; (3) all constructs showed greater stability in the second period than in the first; (4) in both periods stability of PPI was lower than the stability of sociometric indicators. Conclusion: This research confirms the presence of a self-reinforcing loop: a low position in peer networks→poor perceived quality of relations→decrease of position in peer networks. The findings are discussed in relation to the evolutionary theory of loneliness (ETL), which assumes a potentially active role of the perception of peer relationships in forming a position in a peer network. Practical implications of the results are discussed.

Stepping out of secrecy: heterosexuality, quality of life, and experiences of HIV peer navigation in Australia

Heterosexual people make up a small, but growing proportion of people living with HIV in Australia. This article draws on semi-structured interviews with thirteen heterosexual men and women living with HIV to examine the bearing that sexual identity had on their participation in a peer navigation programme. Our analyses consider the influence of sexuality and gender on the quality of peer relations and the effects of HIV-related stigma on health service engagement and quality of life. Gender and sexuality were significant factors in establishing understanding, acceptance, and community for participants. Having their heterosexuality mirrored by a peer was affirming for men. Women instead emphasised their gendered experiences of HIV. Otherwise, participants’ narratives suggested that an experienced peer could reassure, guide interactions with community and services, and ease treatment-related and nonclinical aspects of life. We see peer navigation as a promising intervention to improve the quality of life for heterosexual people living with HIV. Person-centred support from a peer may be particularly important in HIV service environments adapting to the needs of heterosexual people. Peer navigation programmes should promote choice and employ peers of diverse experiences. Implications for referral and the improvement of social services for heterosexual people living with HIV are discussed.

School bullying and peer relationships in children with chronic pain.

Preliminary evidence suggests that there are significant associations between bullying and chronic pain, as well as between the quality of peer relationships and psychological function in youth with chronic pain. However, these findings have yet to be replicated, and the role that bullying plays in anxiety in children and adolescents with chronic pain has not yet been examined. This study sought to expand our understanding of the associations between measures of bullying and quality of peer relationships and pain-related function domains in a community sample of schoolchildren with chronic pain. One thousand one hundred fifteen schoolchildren participated in this study; 57% were girls, the mean age of the study sample was 11.67 years (SD = 2.47), and 46% reported having chronic pain. Participants completed measures of pain characteristics, pain interference, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, bullying (past and current), and quality of peer relationships. Youth with chronic pain reported a significantly higher percentage of being bullied in the past compared with youth without chronic pain. In the group of youth with chronic pain, the measures of past and current bullying, and quality of peer relationships, were not significantly associated with pain intensity, pain interference, or anxiety. However, having a history of being bullied and the quality of peer relationships were significantly associated with depressive symptom severity. The findings indicate that research to evaluate the potential causal role of bullying and the quality of peer relationships on pain-related function domains in youth with chronic pain is warranted.

The Impact of Peer Attachment on Academic Motivation: A Quantitative Analysis

This study aimed to explore the predictive relationship between peer attachment and academic motivation among adolescents, understanding how emotional bonds with peers influence educational engagement and performance. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 300 high school students through standardized questionnaires measuring peer attachment and academic motivation. Linear regression analysis was conducted using SPSS-27 to examine the predictive capacity of peer attachment on academic motivation. Results indicated that peer attachment significantly predicts academic motivation, accounting for 23% of the variance in motivation levels among participants. A positive correlation was found between the quality of peer relationships and the degree of academic motivation, suggesting that stronger peer attachments are associated with higher motivation. The study underscores the importance of peer relationships in shaping academic motivation, suggesting that interventions aimed at enhancing peer connections could positively impact students' educational outcomes. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on the role of social relationships in educational settings, highlighting the need for supportive peer networks to foster academic success.

The relationship between the peer relationship quality, social anxiety level, and parenting styles in adolescents

The relationship between the peer relationship quality, social anxiety level, and parenting styles in adolescents

Peer Relations of Adolescents with Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Systematic Literature Review of Two Decades

AbstractThere is a need for a systematic understanding of how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect peer relationships during adolescence and the subsequent effects on youth well-being. This study conducted a systematic literature review of the two decades (1999–2019) following the CDC-Kaiser ACE study (1998). The review included 11 ACEs (i.e., 10 ACEs from the CDC-Kaiser ACE study plus child welfare involvement) and searched five databases (i.e., Embase, ERIC, PsycINFO, PTSDpubs, and PubMed). Ninety-two studies were included. The findings indicated that ACEs were differentially associated with six aspects of peer relationships: (1) ACEs were negatively associated with peer relation quantity and peer status; (2) ACEs were not significantly related to peer support; (3) associations of ACEs with peer relationship quality and peer characteristics included negative and nonsignificant findings; and (4) relations between ACEs and peer influence appeared contradictory (i.e., positive and negative associations). Additionally, various aspects of peer relationships further affected the well-being of youth with ACEs. The findings call for more attention to the associations between ACEs and adolescent peer relationships. Longitudinal studies that examine change over time, potential mechanisms, and moderating factors in the associations between ACEs and peer relations are needed to clarify the heterogeneity of findings across the six aspects of peer relations. Lastly, the findings suggest a potential expansion of the trauma-informed care principle by considering multiple facets of peer relationships beyond peer support.

Other-Oriented Empathetic Concern as the Underlying Factor of Extrinsic Emotion Regulation Motives and Its Positive Application for Social Well-Being.

In recent years, research on interpersonal emotion regulation has garnered increasing attention. Extrinsic emotion regulation (EER) or the regulation of others' emotions is associated with individual personal relationships and mental health outcomes. However, investigations into why people engage in extrinsic emotion regulation are relatively rare. The current study aimed to identify the underlying factor structure of the motives of extrinsic emotion regulation, based on the Extrinsic Emotion Regulation Motives Scale (EERMS), to examine how these factors related to people's moral identity and social relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants of this study were 464 adults (73.1% females) from China who completed an online survey based on EERMS and other related measures. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was utilized to examine the underlying structure of EER motives followed by a bifactor EFA (bi-EFA). Analyses revealed that the bi-EFA model, with an overarching factor (other-oriented empathetic concern) and three specific factors (self-orientation, reciprocation, and obligation), was best applied to the data. These factors were differently associated with social well-being indicators (moral self-identity, peer relationship quality, and perceived social support). This preliminary study supports the use of a hierarchical perspective to understand the different dimensions of motives for extrinsic emotion regulation.

Relational and physical aggression in preschool-age children: Associations with teacher, parent, sibling, and peer relationship quality.

Early childhood relationships with teachers, parents, siblings, and peers are foundational factors for later social functioning. High rates of childhood aggression have been associated with negative developmental consequences, however, the associations between child aggression on the quality of these formative relationships have not been studied extensively. In a sample of young children attending preschool (N = 114, Mage = 46.27 months, SD = 9.94, 40% girls), this study investigated associations between early childhood relational and physical aggression and the quality of concurrent teacher-child and parent-child closeness and conflict, sibling relationship quality, and positive peer interactions and peer rejection. Early childhood relational and physical aggression was associated with negative teacher-child relationships, and this was true for boys and girls. Differential patterns of prediction were found for relational and physical aggression on the other relationship variables. Relational aggression strongly predicted more positive peer interactions, whereas physical aggression predicted fewer positive peer interactions and greater peer rejection. Early childhood relational aggression predicted higher levels of teacher-child closeness, whereas physical aggression predicted lower levels of teacher-child closeness and fewer positive sibling interactions. These findings challenge common perceptions that aggression is negatively associated with relationship quality. Notably, relational aggression relative to physical aggression may be associated with some favorable relationship outcomes. We did not find support for an additive model of aggression whereby children who were both relationally and physically aggressive (co-morbid) were at higher risk for negative relationship quality. Implications of these findings for future research and prevention and intervention are discussed.

Peer relationships and aggressive behaviour in adolescents: Moderation by gender and mediation by media violence

We investigated the role of gender and media violence in adolescents’ peer relationship problems and aggressive behaviour. High school students (n = 144) from South-Eastern Nigeria participated in the study. Seventy-two completed an experiment in which they were exposed to media violence, while the other 72 served as attention controls. Following the interventions, the students completed measures of peer relationship problems and aggressive behaviour. Results from Hayes PROCESS Macro for moderated–mediation analyses indicated that peer relationship qualities predicted aggressive behaviour. Media violence exposure mediated the peer influence–aggressive behaviour relationship, such that the relationship was stronger for male participants with greater peer relationship problems. The relationship was weaker for female participants with lesser or no peer relationship problems. These findings are consistent with social learning theory, which proposes that children learn to engage in aggressive behaviour by observing the aggression of others, which could intensify over time.

Attachments or Affiliations? The Impact of Social Media on the Quality of Peer Relationships—A Qualitative Study Among Norwegian High School Students

Social media (SoMe) is an important part of how young people socialize and communicate with each other and there are concerns that this may negatively impact peer relationships. The aim of this article was to explore how high school students experience the impact of SoMe on their peer relationships and the quality of these relationships. We performed qualitative semi-structured interviews with 12 Norwegian high-school students. Results showed that SoMe changed the quality of peer relationships as well as online and offline communication. The impact of SoMe on peer relationships depended on whether the students had both online and offline peer relations. Unlike offline relationships, where the youth experienced real friendships, online relationships were primarily described as contacts. The results suggest that online peer relationships often resemble affiliations rather than attachments. This may negatively impact social competence, especially among students whose peer relationships are mainly online-based.

The challenges of classical galactosemia: HRQoL in pediatric and adult patients

BackgroundClassical galactosemia (CG), an inborn error of galactose metabolism, results in long-term complications including cognitive impairment and movement disorders, despite early diagnosis and dietary treatment. Two decades ago, lower motor-, cognitive- and social health related quality of life (HRQoL) was demonstrated in pediatric and adult patients. Since then, the diet has been relaxed, newborn screening was implemented and new international guidelines resulted in major changes in follow-up. The aim of this study was to assess HRQoL of CG by means of online self- and/or proxy-HRQoL-questionnaires focusing on the main areas of concern of CG (i.e. anxiety, depression, cognition, fatigue, social- and upper extremity function) within the patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS®) and generic HRQoL-questionnaires (TAPQOL, TACQOL, TAAQOL).ResultsData of 61 Dutch patients (aged 1–52 years) were collected and compared to available Dutch or US reference populations. On the PROMIS-questionnaires, children reported more fatigue (P = 0.044), lower function in upper extremities (P = 0.021), more cognitive difficulties (P = 0.055, d = 0.56) and higher anxiety (P = 0.063, d = 0.52) than reference children although the latter findings remained non-significant. Parents of CG patients reported lower quality of peer relationships of their children (P < 0.001). Both children and parents reported lower cognitive functioning (P = 0.005, P = 0.010) on the TACQOL. Adults reported on PROMIS domains lower cognitive functioning (P = 0.030), higher anxiety (P = 0.004) and more fatigue (P = 0.026). Cognitive difficulties were reported on the TAAQOL by adults (P < 0.001), as well as physical-, sleeping and social difficulties.ConclusionsCG remains to impact the HRQoL of pediatric and adult patients negatively on several domains including cognition, anxiety, motor function and fatigue. A lower social health was mainly reported by parents, and not by patients themselves. The Covid-19 pandemic might have amplified the results on anxiety although higher levels of anxiety fit pre-pandemic findings. The reported fatigue is a new finding in CG. Because the effect of lockdown fatigue could not be eliminated and fatigue is a frequent finding in patients with chronic disorders, future studies are warranted. Clinicians and researchers should be attentive to both pediatric and adult patients, and the age-dependent difficulties they might encounter.

부모의 공감과 아동의 또래관계 질에서 정서표현성의 매개효과

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to investigate associations between parental empathy andthe quality of children’s peer relationships, and examine the mediating effect of emotional expressivenesson the association between the two variables. Methods: Participants consisted of fifth and sixth grade elementary school children including 164boys and 145 girls in Seoul, Yongin and Suwon city. Children completed a parental empathy inventory,Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire (EEQ), and the quality of peer relationship Network ofRelationships Inventory (NRI). The collected data were analyzed with SPSS and AMOS programs. Results: There was a significant correlation among parental empathy, emotional expressiveness, andthe quality of peer relationships. There was a mediating effect of emotional expressiveness betweena mother's empathy and the quality of children's peer relationships. There was no mediating effectof emotional expressiveness between a father's empathy and the quality of children's peer relationships. The father's empathy had a direct effect on the quality of children's peer relationships. Conclusion: The results of this study can serve as a resource for improving parental empathy, children’semotional expressiveness, and the quality of peer relationships, which play a significant role inchildren’s healthy development and school adaptation.

Gender differences in the role of peer relationship quality on psychological symptoms in youth at-risk for maltreatment

Previous studies have identified associations between peer relationship quality and psychological problems. The current study seeks to expand this research by 1) examining these associations within high-risk adolescents; 2) using diverse dimensions of peer relationship quality; and 3) considering potential gender differences. This study sample includes 635 youth at-risk of maltreatment derived from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) data. To eradicate within-cluster effects, the Generalized Estimating Equations approach was conducted. Results revealed that adolescents who had higher conflict with their peers showed higher levels of anger/irritability and depression. There were significant interaction effects between gender and intimacy on anger/irritability and depression. Female adolescents who had higher levels of intimacy with their peers showed greater anger/irritability and depression, compared to males who had higher levels of intimacy. Findings advance our knowledge of gender differences in the effects of peer relationship quality on psychological symptoms among youth at-risk of maltreatment.

Psychopathy and associations with reward responsiveness and social networks in emerging adults

Psychopathy is characterized by bold, callous, and disinhibited personality features. Research in psychopathy primarily focuses on associations with negatively-valenced social and affective constructs, but less work has investigated positively-valenced constructs. The present investigation examined self-reported psychopathy and associations with reward responsiveness and social networks among first-year university students (n = 245). Results indicated that the triarchic psychopathy facets uniquely mapped onto two different domains of reward; specifically, boldness predicted increased reward responsiveness whereas disinhibition predicted increased delay discounting. With respect to social networks, boldness predicted increased, and meanness predicted decreased, self-reported quantity and quality of peer relationships. These findings provide insight on reward-relevant models of psychopathy as well as the socially adaptive and maladaptive outcomes of psychopathy during emerging adulthood.

The Effect of College Students’ Boredom Proneness on Phubbing: The Chain-Mediating Effects of Fear of Missing Out and Online Vigilance

Purpose. Phubbing not only affects the impression formation and communication quality of both sides of communication but also damages the quality of peer relationships among college students, reduces the happiness of interpersonal objects, and has a negative impact on the physical and mental development of college students. The boredom proneness of college students is an important influencing factor of phubbing, and we aim to investigate the mechanism of its internal influence on phubbing. Design and Methods. A short version of the boredom proneness scale, fear of missing out scale, online vigilance scale, and phubbing scale was used to survey 357 Chinese college students. Bootstrap method using SPSS Process macro developed by Hayes was used to test the chain-mediating effect of fear of missing out and online vigilance in the relationship between college students’ boredom proneness and phubbing. Results. Boredom proneness, fear of missing out, online vigilance, and phubbing were significantly and positively correlated with each other ( p &lt; 0.05 ). The test of mediated effects showed that college students’ boredom proneness not only predicted phubbing but also there were three indirect paths: the separate mediated effect of fear of missing out; the separate mediated effect of online vigilance; and the chain mediated effect of fear of missing out and online vigilance. The effect of the three mediators accounted for 31.82% of the total effect. Practice Implications. College students’ boredom proneness can directly and positively affect phubbing and also affect phubbing through the chain-mediating effects of fear of missing out and online vigilance. The prevention of phubbing among college students should not only reduce boredom proneness but also reduce the level of fear of missing out and online vigilance.

Do Peers Protect People or Put Them at Risk of Recidivism? Friendship Quality and Peer Crime Among Justice-Involved Youth

Despite theoretical acknowledgments that peers can be either “good” or “bad” for criminal offending and recidivism, criminological research most often models peers as a criminogenic influence on offending behaviors. To explore the impact of peer relationships and to expand on theoretical conceptualization of peer relationship quality, the current study uses Pathways to Desistance data to examine the effects of peer quality and peer delinquency in recidivism over time among a sample of 1,272 individuals adjudicated during adolescence. Findings from a series of mixed-effects models demonstrate that peer quality is significantly predictive of increased aggressive offending. However, quality mitigates the relationship between peer delinquency and income offending, highlighting a need for further research considering potential protective aspects of peer relationships.

Associations between social factors and school belonging among newcomer and non-newcomer youth in Sweden.

Feeling a sense of belonging at school is associated with important positive outcomes for youth and requires youth to engage in positive social relationships. Yet there is a limited understanding of the social factors most associated with youths' school belonging and limited evidence about whether correlates of school belonging vary for marginalized groups like newcomers compared to majority groups. Sweden provides an important context for investigation of these issues because, over the past two decades, the country has experienced an influx of asylum seekers and educational reforms that have altered the composition and functioning of Swedish secondary schools. This study addresses these gaps by (1) investigating which of eight social factors are associated with school belonging among diverse Swedish youth, and (2) examining whether newcomer status moderates the relationship between social factors and school belonging. Hierarchical regression and moderation analyses were used to analyze data from 14 to 19 year-old (n = 233) newcomers and non-newcomers in Sweden. An exploratory factor analysis revealed that the school belonging measure contained two factors: positive perceptions and negative perceptions (reverse coded). For both, stronger school belonging was associated with lower perceived ethnic discrimination. Positive perceptions of school belonging were also associated with more prosocial behaviours and lower emotional problems. Negative perceptions of school belonging were associated with more peer problems. Notably, quantity and quality of peer relationships were not associated with school belonging. There was no consistent evidence of newcomer status moderating the relationship between social factors and school belonging. These results highlight factors associated with school belonging which are modifiable and amenable to intervention or impact by policy-ethnic discrimination, prosocial behaviour, and emotional and peer problems. The absence of moderation by newcomer status suggests that school belonging interventions or related policies are likely to affect newcomer and non-newcomer students similarly.

The influence of individual, peer, and family factors on the educational aspirations of adolescents in rural China

Educational aspirations are an important predictor of academic outcomes. While there has been considerable research on educational aspirations in the West, there has been little research in East Asia, and the investigation of factors influencing adolescent aspirations has been neglected, particularly in rural areas. Drawing on ecological systems theory and social cognitive career theory, this study investigated the associations between educational aspirations and factors at the individual, peer, and family levels among rural Chinese adolescents. A total of 606 students (Mage = 14.85 years; 50% boys) from a rural town in Central China completed questionnaires assessing their educational aspirations, individual factors (academic performance, academic self-perception, academic self-regulation, attitudes toward teachers, and goal valuation), and contextual factors (family socioeconomic status, parent and peer relationship quality, and parental and close friends’ aspirations). Individual factors and aspirations of others had significant direct effects on adolescents’ educational aspirations, while parent and peer attachments were significantly related to educational aspirations via individual factors. Family socioeconomic status was not significantly related to adolescents’ educational aspirations. The findings highlight the importance of individual factors as mechanisms explaining the link between contextual factors and rural Chinese adolescents’ educational aspirations. Our results suggest that interventions can be designed to increase and maintain the aspirations of rural Chinese youth by targeting multiple domains of influence.

Social acceptance from peers and youth mentoring: Implications for addressing loneliness and social isolation.

Youth mentoring may be able to support lonely and socially isolated youth. This study examined the association between participating in youth mentoring programs and mentee perception of social acceptance from peers.Regression models considered the association between mentoring and peer social acceptance in terms of demographics, program features, and baseline peer relationship quality for 693 youth from 27 mentoring programs. The construct validity of a social acceptance scale was explored.The scale suggested two factors of peer social acceptance. No significant changes in peer social acceptance were observed before and after participating in mentoring programs. Trends in social acceptance indicated that positive/negative feelings in the mentor-mentee relationship were associated with positive/negative indicators of peer social acceptance.Mentoring programs may be able to help prevent loneliness and social isolation through positive aspects of the mentor-mentee relationships, but additional intervention activities are likely necessary to support lonely and socially isolated youth.