Adolescent Peer Relations, Friendships, and Romantic Relationships: Do They Predict Social Anxiety and Depression?

TLDR

The study investigated how adolescents’ peer crowd affiliations, victimization, best friendships, and romantic relationships predict symptoms of depression and social anxiety. Data were collected from 421 ethnically diverse adolescents (ages 14–19) who completed measures of peer crowd affiliation, peer victimization, and the quality of their best friendships and romantic relationships, and the authors discussed implications for research and prevention. Positive peer crowd affiliation, supportive best friendships, and dating relationships were associated with lower social anxiety, while relational victimization and negative friendship interactions predicted higher social anxiety; similarly, high‑status peer affiliation reduced depressive symptoms, whereas relational victimization and negative friendship and romantic qualities predicted higher depression, with some ethnicity moderation, indicating that multiple social relational factors uniquely contribute to internal distress.

Abstract

This study examined multiple levels of adolescents' interpersonal functioning, including general peer relations (peer crowd affiliations, peer victimization), and qualities of best friendships and romantic relationships as predictors of symptoms of depression and social anxiety. An ethnically diverse sample of 421 adolescents (57% girls; 14 to 19 years) completed measures of peer crowd affiliation, peer victimization, and qualities of best friendships and romantic relationships. Peer crowd affiliations (high and low status), positive qualities in best friendships, and the presence of a dating relationship protected adolescents against feelings of social anxiety, whereas relational victimization and negative interactions in best friendships predicted high social anxiety. In contrast, affiliation with a high-status peer crowd afforded some protection against depressive affect; however, relational victimization and negative qualities of best friendships and romantic relationships predicted depressive symptoms. Some moderating effects for ethnicity were observed. Findings indicate that multiple aspects of adolescents' social relations uniquely contribute to feelings of internal distress. Implications for research and preventive interventions are discussed.