Parent- and peer-adolescent relationships as predictors of adult intimate relationships: A 13-year longitudinal study of maladaptive interaction patterns

• In Event: Poster Session 11
  In Poster Session: PS 11 Topic - Family Context & Processes

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescents’ relationship with parents and peers may each be critical contexts of socialization for later intimate partner relationships in adulthood. Substantial research suggests that early parent-child attachment has an enduring influence over individuals’ socioemotional development in later intimate relationships. Adolescent friendships may also shape values and norms regarding how individuals interact with future adult intimate partners. However, most past longitudinal studies in this area are limited by 1) separately examining the extent to which parent- or peer-adolescent relationship characteristics are predictive intimate partner relationship characteristics in adulthood and 2) a lack of objective observational methods to assessing interaction characteristics. The current study focused on understanding the relative ability of observationally coded maladaptive interaction patterns from both relationship types during adolescence to predict observed maladaptive interaction patterns in adult intimate relationships.
Methods: This study used a longitudinal design with direct observations to study the maladaptive interaction patterns of adolescents with their parents, with a same-age peer, as well as 13 years later in adulthood with an intimate partner. The sample consisted of 170 participants (48.0% males, 47.6% White non-Hispanic) who were initially recruited for participation in a randomized trial of the Family Check-up, a brief family-focused intervention, at age 11. When participants were aged 16-17, they participated in a two structured 45-minute video-recorded observations, including the target adolescent with parents during a Family Assessment Task and with one same-sex friend during a Peer Interaction Task. When participants were aged between 28 and 30, they participated in a structured 45-minute video-recorded interaction with an intimate partner. Maladaptive interactions, including dyadic conflict, negative verbal communication, and negative emotional expression, were coded in each observational task using a global impression coding system.
Results: Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to examine peer- and parent-relationship effects on characteristics of adult intimate relationships. First, a confirmatory factor analysis with three latent variables (maladaptive peer-adolescent interaction, maladaptive parent-adolescent interaction, and maladaptive interaction with intimate partner) each indicated by three observed indicators showed an adequate fit to the data, χ2 = 40.625, df = 24, p < .05, CFI = 0.975, RMSEA = .064, SRMR = .046. Then, we estimated a structural model, including intervention status and target characteristics (i.e., gender and race) as covariates. The model (figure 1) showed a good fit, χ2 = 61.496, df = 42, p < .05, CFI = 0.972, RMSEA = .052, SRMR = .046. We found that maladaptive family interaction patterns with peers during adolescence (β = .276, p = .005) were associated with maladaptive interaction patterns in adult intimate relationships, but maladaptive interaction patterns with parents were not significantly predictive (β = .118, p = .191).
Discussion: This longitudinal study highlights the importance of adolescent peer relationships as socialization contexts for later adult intimate relationships. Parent-adolescent maladaptive interaction patterns, while associated with peer interaction patterns, were not predictive of those patterns in adult intimate relationships. Our results underscore the potential value of interventions targeting peer socioemotional skills early in adolescence as a strategy to promote future positive relational adjustment.

Authors

• Athena Chung Yin Chan, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  Presenting Author

• Sun-Kyung Lee, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  Non-Presenting Author

• Timothy F Piehler, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  Non-Presenting Author

• Thao Ha, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author