The proposed research examines the developmental impact of close relationships on adolescent social and academic competence across various cultural and ethnic contexts. Two studies are proposed that have three goals. These goals are to: (1) identify specific developmental changes across the adolescent period in close relationships, in self perceptions and in competence; 2) describe the developmental pathways that explain how developmental outcomes are influenced by relationships as mediated by self perceptions and (3) describe cultural and ethnic differences that are observed in these developmental pathways. The overarching purpose of this research is to identify the features of relationships that promote optimal development by describing parent and peer characteristics associated with school performance, self esteem, social competence and psychopathology. The proposed studies offer an opportunity to explore the universal and specific adolescent developmental trajectories that explain the contribution of close relationships to adolescent competence. In the first study a cross sectional approach to exploring these goals is proposed using 450 adolescents aged 11 12; 14 15 and 16 17. In the second study a short term longitudinal study is proposed using 600 adolescents aged 11 12 and 14 15. All groups will include equal numbers of males and females in three ethnic groups: African American, European American and Hispanic American. Study one is a descriptive account of adolescent self perceptions and close relationships. Adolescents will complete questionnaires describing closeness and conflict with mothers, fathers and friends. They also will complete measures of self esteem and achievement motivation. Age, gender, and ethnic group differences in close relationships and self perception will be examined. In study two, the relationship between outcomes and relationships over time are examined. Three waves of data will be collected at one year intervals. Adolescents, parents and friends will complete questionnaires describing relationships and perceptions of the adolescents. Several aspects of adolescent competence, including school grades, measures of self esteem and achievement orientation will be collected.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29HD033006-03
Application #
2673855
Study Section
Human Development and Aging Subcommittee 3 (HUD)
Project Start
1996-05-01
Project End
2001-04-30
Budget Start
1998-05-01
Budget End
1999-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Florida Atlantic University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
004147534
City
Boca Raton
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33431
Dickson, Daniel J; Laursen, Brett; Stattin, HÃ¥kan et al. (2015) Parental Supervision and Alcohol Abuse Among Adolescent Girls. Pediatrics 136:617-24
Marion, Donna; Laursen, Brett; Kiuru, Noona et al. (2014) Maternal affection moderates friend influence on schoolwork engagement. Dev Psychol 50:766-71
Laursen, Brett; DeLay, Dawn; Adams, Ryan E (2010) Trajectories of perceived support in mother-adolescent relationships: the poor (quality) get poorer. Dev Psychol 46:1792-8
Burk, William J; Laursen, Brett (2010) Mother and adolescent reports of associations between child behavior problems and mother-child relationship qualities: separating shared variance from individual variance. J Abnorm Child Psychol 38:657-67
Hafen, Christopher A; Laursen, Brett (2009) More problems and less support: early adolescent adjustment forecasts changes in perceived support from parents. J Fam Psychol 23:193-202
Laursen, Brett; Mooney, Karen S (2008) Relationship network quality: adolescent adjustment and perceptions of relationships with parents and friends. Am J Orthopsychiatry 78:47-53
Adams, Ryan E; Laursen, Brett (2007) The correlates of conflict: disagreement is not necessarily detrimental. J Fam Psychol 21:445-58
Burk, William J; Laursen, Brett (2005) Adolescent perceptions of friendship and their associations with individual adjustment. Int J Behav Dev 29:156-164
Laursen, Brett; Hartup, Willard W (2002) The origins of reciprocity and social exchange in friendships. New Dir Child Adolesc Dev :27-40
Laursen, Brett; Pulkkinen, Lea; Adams, Ryan (2002) The antecedents and correlates of agreeableness in adulthood. Dev Psychol 38:591-603

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