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Early Adolescent Peer Foundations of Late Adolescent and Young Adult Psychological Adjustment
Author(s) -
Chango Joanna M.,
Allen Joseph P.,
Szwedo David,
Schad Megan M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of research on adolescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.342
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1532-7795
pISSN - 1050-8392
DOI - 10.1111/jora.12162
Subject(s) - friendship , psychology , autonomy , competence (human resources) , developmental psychology , peer relations , observational study , social competence , peer group , depressive symptoms , adolescent development , young adult , clinical psychology , social psychology , social change , anxiety , psychiatry , medicine , pathology , political science , law , economics , economic growth
The long‐term impacts of failing to establish autonomy and relatedness within close friendships are poorly understood. Adolescent behaviors undermining autonomy and relatedness in friendships at 13 were examined as predictors of friendship competence at 18 and depressive symptoms and social withdrawal at 21. A diverse community sample of 184 adolescents participated in self‐, peer, and observational assessments. Teens' inability to establish autonomy and connection with friends at 13 predicted decreases in friendship competence at 18 (β = −.20, p = .02). Direct links to increase in depressive symptoms (β = .34, p < .001) and social withdrawal (β = .18, p = .03) were observed, with friendship competence partially mediating these relations. Results highlight the importance of problematic adolescent peer relationships as risk factors for the development of young adult internalizing symptoms.