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Experiences with peers following relocation during early adolescence
1Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.
The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
|July 1, 1990
Summary
Adolescent mobility impacts peer relationships. Moving during the school year led to fewer friendships and less intimacy for mobile adolescents, especially boys who experienced more rejection.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Developmental Science
Background:
- Peer relationships are crucial for adolescent development.
- Residential mobility can disrupt social connections during formative years.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare peer experiences of mobile versus stable early adolescents.
- To investigate the impact of recent residential moves on adolescent social interactions.
Main Methods:
- Compared peer experiences of 36 mobile early adolescents with 37 stable peers.
- Assessed friend contact frequency and best friend intimacy.
- Examined instances of peer rejection.
Main Results:
- Mobile adolescents reported fewer friend contacts and lower intimacy with best friends.
- Mobile boys experienced significantly more peer rejection than stable boys.
- No significant difference in rejection was found for mobile versus stable girls.
Conclusions:
- Residential mobility negatively affects early adolescent peer relationships.
- Social integration challenges may be gender-specific for mobile adolescents.