CHILDRENS AND ADOLESCENTS INTERPERSONAL-RELATIONS - DO AGE, RACE, ANDGENDER DEFINE NORMALCY

This study investigated age, gender, and race trends in the developmen t of children's and adolescents' interpersonal relations with their mo thers, fathers, male peers, female peers, and teachers. A nation-wide sample of 1,724 White, Black, and Hispanic children and adolescents ra ted their relationships on the Assessment of Interpersonal Relations s cale. Results showed significant variability in relationship type as a function of age, race, and gender characteristics of the students- Th e analyses depicted children's and adolescents' relationship developme nt as a complex multidimensional phenomenon and suggest that understan ding the sequence and nature of children's relationship development sh ould be the foundation upon which clinical practice and further resear ch are based.