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AN EXAMINATION OF FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE FRIENDSHIPS IN YOUNG ADULTS FROM INTACT AND DIVORCED FAMILIES

Specific factors affecting young adult friendship development have been identified by the literature with little focus on which are most influential in determining friendship composition.. Hierarchical regression was used to examine such factors. Participants included 400 undergraduate Psychology students at a state university in the mid-Atlantic region. Findings indicated parental relationships were the strongest predictor of friendship quality. Parent-child bonds, conflict between parents, and emotion regulation skills best predicted levels of intimacy. Parent-child bond-especially with mother-best predicted satisfaction with friendship network as did conflict between parents. In addition, parent-child bond with mother and conflict between parents were found more important than emotion regulation skills although such skills were still found significant. Contrary to predictions life events were not significant to all outcome variables. Instead life events were found significant only to satisfaction with friendship networks. Finally, parental marital status was found significant, but minimally, only for friendship intimacy.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:vcu.edu/oai:scholarscompass.vcu.edu:etd-3118
Date04 December 2009
CreatorsWolf, Stephanie
PublisherVCU Scholars Compass
Source SetsVirginia Commonwealth University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
SourceTheses and Dissertations
Rights© The Author

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