FRIENDSHIPS IN CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE - CONCEPTS, NETWORKS, AND PARENTAL INFLUENCES

Taking theoretical ideas which propose that peer relationships in midd le childhood contain unique impulses for development as the point of d eparture this article first differentiates between peer relationships in general and friendships to individual peers. Evidence relating to t hree direct and four indirect modes of linking quality and quantity of children's peer relationships and friendships with their parent-child -relationships is then presented. The next part deals with the develop ment of close friendships among adolescents and focuses on gender diff erences and associations with psychological adaptation. The final sect ion discusses the relations between the quality of the parent-child-re lationship and the quality of the adolescent children's friendships in terms of models of continuity vs. models of compensation between the two types of relationships.