Early pubertal timing and emotional symptoms: the protective role of friendship quality

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Jessica M. Lee (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Susan Keane

Abstract: The purpose of the current study was to examine the interaction between pubertal timing and friendship quality in predicting increases in emotional symptoms in adolescent boys and girls longitudinally. Participants included 361 adolescents (67.3% White/European American, 26.2% Black/African American, 5.6% mixed or other). It was hypothesized that earlier maturing girls with higher levels of friendship quality would display decreases in emotional symptoms across time, after controlling for prior levels of emotional symptoms. As part of an ongoing longitudinal study, mothers completed a pubertal development measure at age 10 and children/adolescents completed self-report measures of friendship quality at age 10 and emotional symptoms at age 15. A multigroup analysis was conducted to test the three-way interaction. Contrary to hypotheses, the proposed three-way interaction was not found. Findings of the current study are discussed, and future directions offered.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 2020
Keywords
Pubertal timing, Friendship quality, Emotional symptoms
Subjects
Puberty $x Psychological aspects
Friendship in adolescence
Emotions in adolescence

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