Best friends forever and family ties: continuity and change in closeness with parents and friends among Australian adolescents

Abstract

ABSTRACT During adolescence, the need for social connection increases. Yet, fostering emotional closeness in relationships becomes more complex, as the need for autonomy also increases and social environments must adapt to become conducive to these seemingly competing needs. This complexity necessitates more research on what happens to close relationships during adolescence to better equip parents, scholars, and practitioners are in helping individuals navigate the unique social atmosphere of adolescence. The current study draws upon multi-level modelling techniques to estimate growth models of Australian adolescents’ closeness to parents and closeness to friends from ages 12–17 as well as explore predictors of these trajectories. Findings reveal that on average, adolescents’ levels of closeness to parents exhibit a moderate decrease while remaining relatively high, and boys appear to have a closer relationship with their parents than girls throughout the period examined. Levels of closeness to friends similarly decline while remaining relatively high, with girls exhibiting both greater levels of closeness and a faster decrease than boys throughout the timeframe examined. These results are discussed in light of the current literature, and recommendations for future studies are provided.