Associations between friends' responses during problem talk and emotional adjustment

Abstract

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 12/1/2023] The present study examined how friends' responses to each other during problem talk predicted depressive symptoms overtime. Early and mid-adolescents (N = 314 friend dyads) were observed discussing a problem with a close friend and reported on depressive symptoms at the time of observation and nine months later. Adolescents' responses were coded according to six types of positive/supportive responses and four negative/unsupportive responses. Actor-Partner Interdependence Models revealed significant effects for the negative responses. Notably, receiving higher proportions of Own Experience-Distracting and Silence/No Response from friends in response to own problem statements predicted greater depressive symptoms overtime. Producing higher proportions of Minimize/Non-Support, Change Subject, and Silence/No Response in response to friend problem statements also predicted greater depressive symptoms overtime. Grade-level and gender differences in these associations were also observed. A significant Actor X Partner interaction was observed for Silence/No Response in which adolescents who both produced and received high proportions of Silence/No Response had greatest risk for depressive symptoms nine months later. These results highlight the importance of attending to friends' specific behaviors in social support contexts and their implications on adolescent emotional adjustment.