Self-consciousness, friendship quality, and adolescent internalizing problems

Abstract

The correlates between public and private self-consciousness and internalizing difficulties were examined during early adolescence. Friendship quality was assessed as a possible moderator of the relation between self-consciousness and maladjustment. One hundred and thirty-seven young adolescents (N = 87girls; M age = 13.98 years) reported on their self-consciousness, internalizing problems, and the quality of their best friendship. Results indicated stronger associations between private self-consciousness and internalizing correlates than between public self-consciousness and internalizing problems, suggesting that private self-consciousness may be a stronger risk factor during adolescence. Contrary to expectations, evidence revealed that positive friendship quality may exacerbate some difficulties associated with self-consciousness. Results pertaining to friendship quality add to the growing literature on the ways in which friendships can contribute to adjustment difficulties.

Figure 1

Anxious expectations as a function of public self-consciousness at three levels of positive friendship quality for girls; subscripts L, M, H refer to low, medium, and high levels of positive friendship quality.

Figure 2

Anxious expectations as a function of public self-consciousness at three levels of positive friendship quality for boys; subscripts L, M, H refer to low, medium, and high levels of positive friendship quality.

Figure 3

Angry expectations as a function of public self-consciousness at three levels of positive friendship quality; subscripts L, M, H refer to low, medium, and high levels of positive friendship quality.

Figure 4

Social withdrawal as a function of private self-consciousness at three levels of positive friendship quality; subscripts L, M, H refer to low, medium, and high levels of positive friendship quality.