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Adolescent Friendship Formation and Mental Health: A Stochastic Actor-Based Model of Help-Seeking Behavior
Marlon P Mundt1, Larissa I Zakletskaia2
1Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1100 Delaplaine Court, Madison WI 53715.
Journal of Social Structure : JOSS
|May 31, 2024
Summary
Adolescents seeking psychological counseling made more friends and were more integrated into peer networks. This suggests counseling improves adolescent social functioning and connection.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Adolescent Health
- Network Science
Background:
- Peer relationships are crucial for adolescent development.
- Help-seeking behavior, including psychological counseling, can impact social connections.
- Understanding the interplay between social networks and mental health support is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between adolescent help-seeking behavior (psychological counseling) and peer friendship formation.
- To investigate how the structure of peer social networks influences social connections for counseling recipients.
- To analyze social selection and influence effects in adolescent networks.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 2,264 adolescents (ages 12-19) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health).
- Employed stochastic actor-based modeling to simulate network dynamics and help-seeking behavior.
- Accounted for social selection and influence within the peer network model.
Main Results:
- Adolescents using psychological counseling nominated 65% more friends than non-users.
- Psychological counseling did not lead to a loss of friendships.
- Counseling users were twice as likely to be named as friends in highly interconnected networks.
Conclusions:
- Psychological counseling is associated with improved social functioning and integration in adolescent peer networks.
- Findings support the use of psychological services and highlight the need for early mental health intervention.
- Group interventions focused on social skills may enhance peer connections for adolescent counseling users.
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