Who's the Fairest of Them All and Does It Really Matter? Positive and Negative Affective Responses to Levels of Relational Equity in Adolescent Relationships

The current study investigated how a sample of adolescents perceived the level of equity with friends, teachers, parents, and siblings; and how equity influenced adolescents’ affect. Analysis of responses from 208 Australian secondary students showed that level of perceived equity influenced positive and negative affect. Respondents’ mean scores showed they were more benefitted in their relationships with parents, siblings, friends and least benefitted in relations with teachers. Respondents were most frequently equitable in their relationships with friends. Importantly, consistent with previous research, negative affect was consistently associated with both the underbenefitted and overbenefitted conditions, particularly in relationships with parents and teachers. In conclusion, the findings confirm the initial proposition of equity theory when applied to multiple relationships with adolescents.