Typologies of Young Adolescents’ Close Relationships With Parents, Siblings, and Friends: Predictors and Outcomes

Abstract

Relationships with parents, siblings, and friends are salient contexts to study young adolescent adjustment. Internal working models of relationships develop based on early experiences and provide a framework for how individuals navigate later relationships. Despite the enduring and impactful nature of sibling relationships, little research to date focuses on identifying patterns of relationship quality with siblings while in the presence of other relationships. The present study aimed to address this gap by (1) identifying profiles of co-occurring relationship types as defined by relational positivity and negativity, and (2) examining whether these profiles relate to internalized adjustment and prosocial behaviour. The current sample included young adolescents (n = 388) between 10 and 13 years of age (M = 10.87, SD = 0.73). Latent profile analyses yielded two distinct profiles of relational positivity and negativity: (1) high-quality (n = 244) and (2) discordant (n = 144). Compared to the high-quality profile, participants in the discordant profile demonstrated greater negativity and lower positivity across relationships, along with intense sibling relationships. Results also showed that participants with high-quality relationships were better adjusted psychosocially than those with discordant relationships. This study emphasizes the dynamic interplay of co-occurring relationships, and particularly the unique developmental role of siblings. Overall, the results indicate that future studies should consider multiple co-occurring relationships to advance our understanding of adolescent relationship networks and their influence on socio-behavioural functioning.