A new approach to studying the “ups” and “downs” in young adolescents’ friendships

• In Event: 2-052 - A More Detailed Examination of Friendship Experiences in the Lives of Adolescents

Integrative Statement

As children become young adolescents, their friendships tend to become increasingly intimate. At the same time, many friendships become increasingly vulnerable to conflict, jealousy, and break-up. While the features of adolescents’ friendships and how certain features lead to friendship instability have been established in past research, little is known about the types of changes that occur within intact/lasting friendships, or the ways in which certain features of adolescent friendships change over time. In research on adult friendships and romantic relationships, researchers interview adults about their relationship histories; participants are also asked to construct “relationship timelines.” Importantly, such work shows that changes (both increases and decreases) in feelings of closeness and commitment oftentimes follow turning points or significant events (e.g., taking trips together, changes due to geographical distance; Becker et al., 2009; Bolton, 1961; Johnson et al., 2004). This study considers, for the first time, whether the same is true in young adolescent friendships. Accordingly, this study evaluates whether the turning point interview method extends knowledge about the “ups” and “downs” in adolescent friendships.

One hundred and twenty-four adolescents (54% female, Mage = 13.68 years) from Buffalo, NY, USA were individually interviewed about the relationship history of their best-friendships. They were asked to reflect on and describe any turning points (or events that led to changes in closeness) that had occurred and to plot the events on a timeline (for timeline, see Figure 1). Adolescents also plotted on the timeline the levels of closeness that they felt in their friendships (on a 100-point scale) at the beginning of their relationship, at each reported turning point, and at the time of the interview. The mean length of the friendships about which adolescents were reporting was 4.78 years (SD = 3.48), and in general, participants reported becoming increasingly close to their friends across the length of their relationship (initial closeness: M = 25.42, SD = 23.91; interview closeness: M = 92.26, SD = 11.91; t (105) = 26.40, p = .001). Four-hundred and fifty-nine turning points were reported, with adolescents reporting an average of 3.70 turning points each (SD = 1.26; Range = 1-7). The length of the relationship was not related to the number of events reported or interview closeness (rs = -.06, .04, ps > .05). Of note, most (71%) of turning points reported corresponded with increases in levels of closeness but a significant minority were associated with decreases (15%) or stable (14%) levels of closeness. Few events associated with decreases were described as resulting from conflicts (20%); most were linked to changes in geographic location or proximity (e.g., being in the same classroom; 70%).

Results suggest that turning point interviews may be a promising tool to enhance understanding of the “ups” and “downs” in adolescent friendships. They point to the importance of considering the fluidity of adolescent friendships and highlight the importance of proximity to the stability of intimacy and closeness in adolescent friendships. Findings on gender and other categories of events in relation to closeness will be discussed.

Authors

• Julie C Bowker, University at Buffalo, SUNY
  Presenting Author

• Miriam T Stotsky, University at Buffalo, SUNY
  Non-Presenting Author

• Rebecca G. Etkin, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
  Non-Presenting Author