The role of peers in the emergence of heterosexual romantic relationships in adolescence

Adolescents' peer structures and the quality of their friendships were expl ored as antecedents of romantic relationships. Longitudinal data were gathe red in a sample of 180 high school students over a 3-year period from grade 9 to grade 11. Consistent with Dunphy (1963), small groups of close friend s were predictive of other-sex peer networks which were, in turn predictive of the emergence of future romantic relationships. Indirect effects were f ound for same-sex groups of close friends and same-sex networks. Consistent with Furman and Wehner (1994), the qualitative features of relationships w ith both friends and romantic partners were predictive of the qualitative f eatures of subsequent romantic experiences. These linkages suggest ways in which peer relationships may support romantic development at this stage of the life cycle.