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International Journal of Behavioral Development, Vol. 31, No. 6, 549-558 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0165025407080578

Friendship quality as a moderator between perception of interparental conflicts and maladjustment in adolescence

Helle Larsen

Research Centre Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, H.Larsen{at}pwo.ru.nl

Susan J. T. Branje

Research Centre Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Inge van der Valk

Research Centre Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Wim H. J. Meeus

Research Centre Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

The aim of this study was to longitudinally examine the moderating role of friendship quality in the association between adolescent perception of interparental conflicts and maladjustment. Participants were 1294 adolescents enrolled in the Dutch CONAMORE 2001—2006 study (Mage = 13.6 years). AMOS multigroup analyses were utilized. Results show that low friendship quality is a risk factor for both boys and girls, aggravating the effect of interparental conflicts on anxiety, whereas for aggression this was only the case for boys. No convincing support was found for high friendship quality's protective function against the effect of perceived interparental conflict on maladjustment. These findings show the substantial importance of not being in a low quality friendship when adolescents perceive interparental conflicts.

Key Words: adolescence • aggression • anxiety • friendship quality • interparental conflicts

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