Young Adolescents' Experiences with Parents and Friends: Exploring the Connections^*

Abstract

Drawing on social learning and structural family theories, we examined the connections between young adolescents' experiences with their mothers and fathers and their best friends. Young adolescents ( N = 143 ) from Latino and European American families were recruited from a local school district in a rural southwestern community. Adolescents described the emotional qualities of their relationship with each parent, the nature of the parent‐adolescent hierarchy, and their experiences with their best friend. Findings revealed links between European American boys' experiences with their fathers and their best friends and between the nature of the parent‐adolescent hierarchy and both boys' and girls' intimacy with their best friends. The discussion highlights implications for intervention in early adolescence.