Adolescent peer relationships and behavior problems predict young adults’ communication on social networking websites.

TLDR

The study examined online communication on social networking sites in a longitudinal sample of 92 youths. Participants’ social and behavioral adjustment were assessed at ages 13–14 and again at 20–22, and at 20–22 observers coded their social networking website use and friendship quality. Better adjustment at 13–14 predicted greater social networking use at 20–22, and patterns of peer relationships and behavior at both ages predicted similar interaction quality and problem behavior online, supporting cross‑situational continuity into the online domain.

Abstract

This study examined online communication on social networking web pages in a longitudinal sample of 92 youths (39 male, 53 female). Participants' social and behavioral adjustment was assessed when they were ages 13-14 years and again at ages 20-22 years. At ages 20-22 years, participants' social networking website use and indicators of friendship quality on their web pages were coded by observers. Results suggested that youths who had been better adjusted at ages 13-14 years were more likely to be using social networking web pages at ages 20-22 years, after statistically controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, and parental income. Overall, youths' patterns of peer relationships, friendship quality, and behavioral adjustment at ages 13-14 years and at ages 20-22 years predicted similar qualities of interaction and problem behavior on their social networking websites at ages 20-22 years. Findings are consistent with developmental theory asserting that youths display cross-situational continuity in their social behaviors and suggest that the conceptualization of continuity may be extended into the online domain.