Longitudinal associations among adolescents’ internalizing problems, well-being, and the quality of their relationships with their mothers, fathers, and close friends

• In Event: Poster Session 08
  In Poster Session: PS 08 Topic - Social Relationships

Abstract

While there is consensus in the scientific literature that internalizing problems (anxiety and depression) decrease adolescents’ well-being, knowledge about mechanisms potentially underpinning this association is limited. Theoretically, internalizing problems are argued to be manifested and expressed in interpersonal contexts, and thus likely to affect adolescents’ relationships with their parents and close friends. Empirically, internalizing problems have indeed been found to negatively affect the quality of parent–adolescent relationships and friendships. Additionally, the importance of high-quality relationships with parents and close friends for adolescents’ well-being is theoretically and empirically recognized. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the indirect longitudinal effects between adolescents’ internalizing problems and well-being via the quality of adolescents’ relationships with both their mothers and fathers and their close friends.
Data were collected in two waves as part of a larger, longitudinal study on socio-ecological predictors of adolescent well-being. Participants were adolescents from three secondary schools, located in the areas of two large cities in the Netherlands (Amsterdam and Rotterdam). The schools, parents, and adolescents themselves provided informed consent for participation. At T1, the sample consisted of 1,108 adolescents (mean age 13.7 years) in grades 7–9. At T2, 12 months later, 1,056 adolescents (mean age 14.6 years) in grades 7–10 participated. They completed an online questionnaire in the classroom during regular school hours. Among other themes, they reported on internalizing problems (depression and anxiety; Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale-25), well-being (Mental Health Continuum – Short Form), and parent-adolescent relationship quality for both mothers and fathers and friendship quality (Network of Relationships Inventory). The data were analyzed using a two-wave cross-lagged panel model in R. Multigroup analyses were performed to examine the gender invariance of the findings.
Results showed: (1) that girls, but not boys, who reported more internalizing problems had lower well-being one year later, even after controlling for their well-being at T1; (2) that girls and boys who reported more internalizing problems had lower-quality relationships with their mothers, fathers, and close friends one year later; and (3) that boys, but not girls, who reported higher-quality friendships had higher well-being one year later (see Table 1, Figure 1). Despite these significant direct effects, no significant indirect effects between internalizing problems and well-being via the quality of adolescents’ relationships with their mother, father, and close friends were detected.
In sum, our findings indicate that adolescents’ internalizing problems can interfere with the formation and maintenance of high-quality parental relationships and close friendships and that close friendships in particular contribute to adolescents’ future well-being. These findings aid the identification of critical sources for the fostering of positive youth development outside the family, and is especially relevant in light of the large amount of time that adolescents spend with their peers, including close friends, in school and in their free time. Furthermore, our results emphasize the value of applying comprehensive models with consideration of the quality of adolescents’ relationships with their mothers, fathers, and close friends in research on adolescents’ mental health and well-being.

Authors

• Chantie Luijten, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  Presenting Author

• Daphne van de Bongardt, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  Non-Presenting Author

• Joran Jongerling, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  Non-Presenting Author

• Anna Petra Nieboer, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  Non-Presenting Author