The Role of Friendship for Adolescent Development in African American Youth.

Abstract

Friendship quality was examined longitudinally in 140 African American adolescents from 6th to 10th grades. Three studies explored different questions related to friendship quality: how friendship quality develops, how friendship quality and friendship influences interact on risky behavior, and whether friendship quality acts as a protective factor against perceived racial discrimination on risky behavior. Girls reported higher friendship quality across all four time-points from 6th to 10th grades. Fewer gender differences were found in 10th grade, which suggests a closing of the gap later on in high school. Piecewise hierarchical linear models were conducted to examine the different rates of change before and after the high school transition. Girls’ increasing friendship quality trajectories were found to level off from 9th to 10th grade. Boys continued to increase in friendship quality into 10th grade. These findings highlight gender differences in the development of friendship quality.

Regression analyses from the second study found marginally significant results for positive friendship quality. When the friendship was low in quality and the friend engaged in higher levels of risky behavior, girls were more likely to engage in risky behavior in 8th grade. Additionally, when the friendship was high in quality and the friend engaged in higher levels of risky behavior, girls’ risky behavior increased slightly from 6th to 8th grade. These results suggest that low friendship quality is more detrimental than high friendship quality when the girl’s best friend is engaging in risky behavior.

Regression analyses from the third study revealed significant findings in boys for the interaction between positive friendship quality and perceived discrimination. No significant findings were found for girls. For boys, positive friendship quality, guidance, and validation were found to protect against the negative effect of perceived discrimination on risky behavior. These results suggest that for boys, positive friendship quality is important in providing care and support when they are faced with racial discrimination. These findings highlight gender differences in the development of friendship quality and the benefits of friendships as well as socialization versus selection effects. Future research and preventative measures against risky behavior in African American adolescents are discussed.