THE QUALITY OF ADOLESCENT FRIENDSHIPS - LONG-TERM EFFECTS

While differing in etiological emphasis, a variety of theoretical pers pectives seem to coalesce around the notion that youthful friendships are ''good'' for development. Sociometric studies have documented that low status youth are at risk for a variety of negative outcomes, but there has been little longitudinal research focused on the qualities o f youths' relations with peers. We conducted interviews focusing on ad olescents' relations with their friends with 942 adolescents in 1982. In 1992, follow up interviews (N = 620) allowed us to determine whethe r level of intimacy with friends was associated with a range of adult outcomes, once sociodemographic characteristics and level of family in timacy were taken into account. Adolescents who reported greater level s of intimacy with friends do not, as adults, indicate that they have significantly higher self-esteem, better relations with their parents, or increased marital satisfaction. In addition, the level of intimacy is not related to adult reports of psychological distress, involvemen t in criminal activity or use of violence against one's spouse. In con trast, sociodemographic characteristics and level of attachment to par ents are related to many of these kinds of outcomes. We also discuss i mplications for attachment or relational perspectives on youthful frie ndship.