Young, middle, and late adolescents' comparisons of the functional importance of five significant relationships

Abstract

The present study investigated how young (11-13-year-old), middle (14-16-year-old), and late (17-19-year-old) adolescents compared the relative functional importance of their relationships with their mother, their father, their most important sibling, their best same-sex friend, and their most important teacher. Mothers and fathers were perceived as highly important sources of affection, instrumental aid, and reliable alliance by all adolescents; however, the parent-adolescent child relationship was also ranked high on the conflict dimension. Best same-sex friends were ranked highest in all three adolescent groups for intimacy and companionship. Siblings, too, were perceived as important sources of intimacy and companionship; they were also ranked high for the nurturance and conflict dimensions. Relationships with teachers received very low ratings in general.

Perceived relationship quality in adolescents following early social-emotional deprivation

“…In studies of non-PI children, sibling relationships are exemplified by high levels of conflict, along with affection, alliance, companionship, intimacy, and nurturance (Furman & Buhrmester, 1985a,b, 1992Lempers & Clarklempers, 1992). This environment of simultaneous closeness and conflict theoretically allows children to test and to develop social skills necessary for maintaining other relationships (Furman & Buhrmester, 1985a).…”

“…Approximately 78% of non-PI children in middle childhood have at least one best friend (Parker & Asher, 1993), and the best friend relationship is exemplified by companionship, intimacy, enhancement of worth, and some conflict (Furman & Buhrmester, 1985b;Lempers & Clarklempers, 1992). In adolescence, friendships tend to be high in support, intimacy, and affection, with some decreases in companionship and nurturance with age (Furman & Buhrmester, 1992;Lempers & Clarklempers, 1992).…”

“…In adolescence, friendships tend to be high in support, intimacy, and affection, with some decreases in companionship and nurturance with age (Furman & Buhrmester, 1992;Lempers & Clarklempers, 1992). These findings may be qualified by sociometric status, such that high-and average-accepted children have more supportive and intimate friendships and are more satisfied with their friendships than low-accepted children (Parker & Asher, 1993).…”

Percepcija kvalitete odnosa sa sestrom u mlađih adolescenata

“…Rezultati su pokazali da su braća i sestre zajedno s prijateljima u ovoj dobi važan izvor socijalne integracije, dok se najviše bliskosti ipak dobiva u odnosu s roditeljima. Slični rezultati dobiveni su i u studiji koju su proveli Lempers i Clark- Lempers (1992) i Seginer (1998); braća i sestre u adolescentskoj dobi smatraju se pouzdanim osloncima te važnim izvorima emocionalne potpore. Zbog sve veće egalitarnosti u odnosu, čestih interakcija povećava se osjećaj da nas braća i sestre bolje razumiju i prihvaćaju od drugih.…”

“…Ta se vezanost odražava i u adolescenciji te kasnije i u odrasloj dobi, a privrženo i zaštitničko ponašanje manifestira se kroz komunikaciju, posjećivanja, zajednička okupljanja i slavlja te pomoć koju braća i sestre pružaju jedni drugima. U skladu s time su i nalazi dobiveni u studiji koju su proveli Lempers i Clark- Lempers (1992) i Seginer (1998); braća i sestre u adolescentskoj dobi smatraju se pouzdanim osloncima te važnim izvorima emocionalne potpore. Procjene prihvaćanja i emocionalne potpore koju dobijemo od braće i sestara bile su veće od dobitaka u drugim bliskim odnosima (odnosu s roditeljima i prijateljima).…”