Integration of adult attachment and psychosocial development theories suggests that adolescence is a time when capacities for romantic intimacy and identity formation are co‐evolving. The current study addressed direct, indirect and moderated associations among identity and romantic attachment constructs with a diverse sample of 2178 middle adolescents. Identity styles were found to have unique and direct associations with identity commitment. Attachment anxiety showed only indirect associations and attachment avoidance had both direct and indirect associations with identity commitment. Tests of moderation revealed that gender, race and relationship status had no influence on the direct associations of identity styles or romantic attachment with identity commitment. Few differences in association strength among identity styles and romantic attachment emerged for gender or race. However, the differences found for relationship status suggested that relationship experiences adolescents bring to their exploration of identity and intimacy matter for how these two areas of development articulate.

Interdependence and social exchange theories were used to explore parent–adolescent relationship quality and early adolescents' relationships with close friends and dating partners. Associations among adolescents' perceptions of parental support and psychological control, peer relationship experiences (communication, emotional support, and possessiveness), and peer relationship satisfaction were examined using a test‐replication design. Our largely African American and female samples ranged from age 11 to 15. Results indicated the parenting variables were directly related to peer relationship experiences, which, in turn, predicted relationship satisfaction. The association between parental support and relationship satisfaction was mediated by peer communication and emotional support. Limited moderation by gender and relationship type was found. Parental psychological control mattered more for female and parental support more for male adolescents' close peer relationships. Dating partner possessiveness was most detrimental for females' relationship satisfaction, whereas communication influenced relationship satisfaction most for females reporting on friends and males reporting on dating partners.

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