Interparental conflict and (pre)adolescents΄ peer relationships

Part of : Hellenic journal of psychology ; Vol.4, No.3, 2007, pages 257-280

Issue:
Pages:
257-280
Section Title:
Social development and social context
Author:
Abstract:
The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between interparentalconflict and (pre)adolescents' peer relationships. Participants were 254 (pre)adolescents ofboth genders, aged 11-16 years, living in their own two-parent families. (Pre)adolescents' peeracceptance and best-friendship qualities were assessed with sociometric and self-reportmeasures. Interparental conflict, as perceived by (pre)adolescents, was assessed with theChildren's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale. The results suggest that perceivedinterparental conflict was negatively related to (pre)adolescents' peer acceptance in theclassroom, to their number of friends, and to their best-friendship qualities. (Pre)adolescents'self-blame for interparental conflict was the major predictor of their best-friendship qualities,that is, companionship, help, security, conflict and closeness, as well as peer acceptance in theclassroom. Age differences were also found: (pre)adolescents' peer relationships, comparedto adolescents', were strongly related to interparental conflict. Finally, gender differences werealso present: for boys, perceived threat was the major predictor of the qualities of their bestfriendship, whereas for girls self-blame negatively predicted the respective qualities.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
best friendship, interparental conflict, peer acceptance
Notes:
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