Conflict at home and problems with peers: Family-peer linkages and the role of adolescent depressive symptoms and gender

Abstract

Peer relationships have a significant impact on developmental outcomes throughout the lifespan. One variable that has been identified extensively as a contributor to peer outcomes is children's family environment. In the present investigation, I examine the relation between adolescents' family environment and peer relationships. Specifically, I study how family conflict, including both parent-child conflict and marital conflict, is linked to social acceptance and social behavior. I examine whether adolescents' depressive symptoms act as a mediator of the links between family conflict and social acceptance and behavior. Finally, I examine the moderating role of gender.