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. 2021 Apr 17;8(4):306.
doi: 10.3390/children8040306.

Peer Influence during Adolescence: The Moderating Role of Parental Support

Mazneen Havewala  1 , Julie C Bowker  2 , Kelly A Smith  3 , Linda Rose-Krasnor  4 , Cathryn Booth-LaForce  5 , Brett Laursen  6 , Julia W Felton  7 , Kenneth H Rubin  3
Affiliations

Peer Influence during Adolescence: The Moderating Role of Parental Support

Mazneen Havewala et al. Children (Basel). .

Abstract

Although many studies show that peers influence the development of adolescent internalizing and externalizing difficulties, few have considered both internalizing and externalizing difficulties in the same study, and fewer have considered the contributions of parents. Using a longitudinal sample of 385 adolescents, the contributions of best friends' internalizing and externalizing difficulties (as assessed in Grade 6; G6: Mage = 13.64 years; 53% female; 40% ethnic or racial minority) were examined as they predicted subsequent adolescent internalizing and externalizing difficulties (at G8); in addition, the moderating role of both maternal and paternal support (at G6) was explored. Structural equation modelling revealed that best friend internalizing difficulties predicted decreases, but that best friend externalizing difficulties predicted increases in adolescents' externalizing difficulties over time. Significant interactions involving both maternal and paternal support revealed that the negative impact of a G6 best friend having internalizing problems on later G8 adolescent externalizing problems was stronger at low levels of maternal and paternal support. The findings highlight the complex, and interactive, influences of friends and parents on the development of internalizing and externalizing symptomatology during adolescence, and underscore the importance of targeting both sources of social influence in research and clinical work.

Keywords: adolescence; externalizing problems; internalizing problems; parental support; peer influence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hypothesized path model. Within-time covariances are not displayed for ease of communication.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Final path model with maternal support.* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001
Figure 3
Figure 3
Final path model with paternal support. *** p < 0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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