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Peer relations in childhood

Dale F Hay1, Alexandra Payne, Andrea Chadwick

  • 1School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Wales. haydf@cf.ac.uk

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
|February 13, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Children

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Childhood Social Development

Background:

  • Peer relations commence in early childhood, with stable preferences by age three.
  • Social skills and peer group structures (friendship, gender, dominance) develop in preschool years.
  • Peer rejection emerges during the preschool period.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a developmental model of normal peer relations.
  • To identify processes underlying peer relationship problems in childhood.
  • To evaluate the role of peer relations in the genesis of psychological disorder.

Main Methods:

  • Developmental modeling of peer relations.
  • Identification of cognitive and emotional processes facilitating peer relationships.
  • Review of evidence on the link between peer relations and psychological problems.

Main Results:

  • Entrenched peer relationship problems (loneliness, bullying, victimization) can develop in later childhood.
  • Peer relations play a reciprocal, not simple causal, role in psychological problems.
  • This reciprocal relationship exists from infancy through adolescence.

Conclusions:

  • Peer relationships are foundational to child development and psychological well-being.
  • Problems with peers and psychological issues are interconnected throughout development.
  • Interventions should consider the bidirectional influence between peer relations and mental health.

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