Peer relations of adolescents from nuclear and separated families

Problems of psychosocial adjustment as a consequence of parental separation have mostly been studied concerning aspects of family relations and indivi dual growth. The present study examined peer relations of young people betw een the ages of 10 and 20 years old who lived in nuclear families, step,fam ilies, and single-parent families. Based on the second questionnaire assess ment of a longitudinal study conducted in East and West Germany, reports fr om a total of 637 boys and girls on deviant and constructive peers in their social network as well as on the quality of their relations with best frie nds were analysed. Findings suggest that peer relations were affected by pa rental separation only to a minor extent as compared to, e.g. gender- or ag e-specific effects. A central aspect of friendship quality, however, namely admiration by friends, clearly suffered from conflict between mothers and fathers. (C) 2001 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolesc ents.