Romantic relationships and psychological distress among adolescents: Moderating role of friendship closeness. 2015

Chong Man Chow, and Holly Ruhl, and Duane Buhrmester
Psychology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, USA cchow@emich.edu.

BACKGROUND The formation of romantic relationships and friendships in adolescence is a defining milestone in the progression toward social maturity. Thus, examining adolescents' friendship and romantic experiences serves a vital role in understanding their psychological adjustment. OBJECTIVE The main purposes of the current study were to examine (a) whether romantic involvement, romantic security, and friendship closeness were independently predictive of late adolescents' depression and loneliness, and (b) whether friendship closeness would moderate the negative effects of adolescents' lower degrees of romantic involvement and romantic security on depression and loneliness. METHODS Data came from 12th grade adolescents (N = 110, 53 females) as well as their parents and a same-sex best friend. Adolescents reported on their romantic involvement, romantic security, and psychological distress. Parent reports of adolescents' depressive symptoms and friend reports of friendship closeness were also included. RESULTS Higher degrees of romantic involvement and friendship closeness were related to lower degrees of loneliness. Higher degrees of romantic security were related to lower degrees of depression and loneliness. The effect of romantic involvement on depression and loneliness was moderated by friendship closeness. Also, the effect of romantic security on loneliness was moderated by friendship closeness. CONCLUSIONS Future research should focus on the interactive roles that friendships and romantic relationships play in the emergence of psychopathology during adolescence.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007398 Interpersonal Relations The reciprocal interaction of two or more persons. Social Relationships,Husband-Wife Communication,Partner Communication,Communication, Husband-Wife,Communication, Partner,Husband Wife Communication,Husband-Wife Communications,Interpersonal Relation,Partner Communications,Relation, Interpersonal,Relationship, Social,Social Relationship
D008132 Loneliness The state of feeling sad or dejected as a result of lack of companionship or being separated from others. Homesickness
D008149 Love Affection; in psychiatry commonly refers to pleasure, particularly as it applies to gratifying experiences between individuals. Loves
D008297 Male Males
D012044 Regression Analysis Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable. Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D003863 Depression Depressive states usually of moderate intensity in contrast with MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER present in neurotic and psychotic disorders. Depressive Symptoms,Emotional Depression,Depression, Emotional,Depressive Symptom,Symptom, Depressive
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000294 Adolescent Behavior Any observable response or action of an adolescent. Behavior, Adolescent,Adolescent Behaviors,Behaviors, Adolescent

Related Publications

Chong Man Chow, and Holly Ruhl, and Duane Buhrmester
December 1999, The Journal of social psychology,
Chong Man Chow, and Holly Ruhl, and Duane Buhrmester
January 2012, The Journal of psychology,
Chong Man Chow, and Holly Ruhl, and Duane Buhrmester
January 1997, New directions for child development,
Chong Man Chow, and Holly Ruhl, and Duane Buhrmester
June 2001, Journal of adolescence,
Chong Man Chow, and Holly Ruhl, and Duane Buhrmester
September 1987, Journal of adolescence,
Chong Man Chow, and Holly Ruhl, and Duane Buhrmester
January 2023, Frontiers in public health,
Chong Man Chow, and Holly Ruhl, and Duane Buhrmester
August 2009, Psychological reports,
Chong Man Chow, and Holly Ruhl, and Duane Buhrmester
May 2024, Appetite,
Chong Man Chow, and Holly Ruhl, and Duane Buhrmester
June 2023, Child psychiatry and human development,
Chong Man Chow, and Holly Ruhl, and Duane Buhrmester
July 2009, Child abuse & neglect,
Copied contents to your clipboard!