PERCEIVED PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND EARLY ADOLESCENTS ORIENTATION TOWARD PEERS

This study examined the links between children's perceptions of the ma nner in which they and their parents adjust their relationships during early adolescence and early adolescents' orientation toward parents a nd peers. A sample of 1,771 children completed self-report questionnai res during the spring of their 6th and 7th grades- As predicted, early adolescents who believed their parents asserted and did not relax the ir power and restrictiveness were higher in an extreme form of peer or ientation. Also as predicted, those who perceived few opportunities to be involved in decision making, as well as no increase in these oppor tunities, were higher in both extreme peer orientation and peer advice seeking. Discussion focuses on the importance for parent-child relati onships to adjust to early adolescents' changing developmental needs, as well as the implications of early adolescent peer orientation for l ater development.