AVERSIVE EXCHANGES WITH PEERS AND ADJUSTMENT DURING EARLY ADOLESCENCE- IS DISCLOSURE HELPFUL

We examined the relationship between the frequency of four types of av ersive exchanges with peers (teased, threatened, hit, excluded), discl osure, and psychological distress in a sample of 130 early adolescents (65 boys, 65 girls). Most (73%) reported at least one aversive exchan ge with a peer during the 3-month target period. Many reported that th ey did not talk to anyone about these exchanges. When disclosure occur red, other adolescents were more likely than adults to be chosen as co nfidants. More frequent aversive exchanges and non-disclosure of these events were related to higher self-reported loneliness for boys and g irls. A similar pattern was found for girls only using mothers' rating s of the adolescents' internalizing and externalizing symptoms.