When friendships surpass parental relationships as predictors of long‐term outcomes: Adolescent relationship qualities and adult psychosocial functioning

Abstract

Perceptions of adolescent–parent and adolescent–peer relationship qualities, and adolescents’ attachment states of mind were examined as predictors of adult social and romantic relationship quality, depressive symptoms, and work performance. Adolescents (86 male, 98 female; 58% White, 29% African American, 8% mixed race/ethnicity, 5% other groups) were followed from age 13 to 24 via observational, self‐, parent‐, and close friend‐reports. Adolescent close friendship quality was a significantly better predictor of adult peer and romantic outcomes, work performance, and depressive symptoms than parental reports of the parent–teen relationship; attachment security was also a strong predictor of numerous outcomes. Results are interpreted as reflecting the difficulty for parents judging parent–teen relationship quality and as reflecting the growing importance of close friendships during this period.

Profiles of Emotional Separation and Parental Trust from Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood: Age Differences and Associations with Identity and Life Satisfaction

“…These results suggest that a strong emotional connection with parents is not a pressing issue for youth in older age groups, and a more separated relationship quality is normative (Theisen et al, 2018 ). This finding aligns with prior attachment studies demonstrating that adolescents’ increased distance from their parents is attributed to their effort to establish an autonomous sense of self and receive more support from peers (Allen et al, 2022 ) and romantic partners (Oudekerk et al, 2015 ) as they age. Thus, although secure attachment is essential across the lifespan, older youth struggle with (or enjoy) a more separated relationship with their parents.…”

A prospective study of the relative contribution of adolescent peer support quantity and quality to depressive symptoms

“…For example, poorer peer relationship quality prospective predicted depressive symptoms during later adolescence (Burton, Stice, & Seeley, 2004; Colarossi & Eccles, 2003) and the transition to college (Eberhart & Hammen, 2006). Similarly, lower perceived friendship quality during adolescence prospectively predicted more depressive symptoms in early adulthood (Allen, Costello, Kansky, & Loeb, 2022; Demir & Urberg, 2004) and in middle adulthood (Bean, Pingel, Hallqvist, Berg, & Hammarström, 2019). Additionally, perceived friendship quality indirectly predicted outcomes in middle adulthood by buffering against the negative effects of adolescent peer rejection on later mental health outcomes (Marion, Laursen, Zettergren, & Bergman, 2013).…”

A social-development model of the evolution of depressive symptoms from age 13 to 30

“…Most importantly, neither of these measures relied upon adolescent self-reports, thus eliminating the methods confounds that have plagued much prior research in this area. In addition, although it is possible that parent reports were distorted by their sense of the quality of their own relationship with their offspring, this possibility is lessened by findings from other research with this sample indicating that parent-adolescent relationship quality is not a long-term predictor of offspring depressive symptoms (Allen et al, 2022). Step I.…”

“…Depressive symptoms (13-17 This study also extends prior results in part by showing that predictions from relationship qualities are found even after accounting for predictions from symptoms other than just depressive symptoms. This makes it less likely that comorbid symptoms, such as anxiety, could have driven both relationship difficulties and future depressive symptoms, thus addressing a key limitation of even some of the methodologically strongest longitudinal studies to date (Allen et al, 2022;Narr et al, 2019). This is also the longest span across which relationship difficulties have been linked to depressive symptoms using relationship measures not dependent upon self-reports.…”

“…The ability to form high-quality social relationships in adolescence now appear closely linked to everything from concurrent and future academic functioning to long-term romantic and general life satisfaction (Allen et al, 2020;Li et al, 2011;Loeb et al, 2020;Marion et al, 2013). Conversely, poor or absent interpersonal relationships appear to be not only correlated with depressive symptoms in adolescence, but predictive of increasing levels of depressive symptoms over time within adolescence (Allen et al, 2006;Chango et al, 2012) and beyond (Allen et al, 2022;Narr et al, 2019). Similarly, within experimental paradigms, peer rejection has been linked to short-term increases in adolescent depressive symptoms (Platt et al, 2013).…”