JUST AMONG FRIENDS: ASSOCIATIONS AMONG EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION, FRIEND BEHAVIOR, AND FRIENDSHIP QUALITY IN EARLY ADOLESCENT SAME-SEX FRIEND DYADS

Abstract

To better understand emotional expression within the context of close same-sex friendships of young adolescents, this study examined emotional expressivity among 116 adolescents (58 friend dyads) in Grades 7-8 (12-14 years of age) utilizing a multi-method design that incorporates both observations and multi-informant ratings of emotional expression. A series of actor-partner interdependent models revealed similarities among close friends on parent-reported and observed emotional expressivity, although some of these findings were gender specific and varied according to how emotional expression was measured. Measures of friendship quality appeared unrelated to indicators of emotional expressivity. Loglinear analyses indicated that when friends responded to participants' emotional expressions supportively, rather than dismissively, participants were more likely to disclose emotions in subsequent utterances. Research and clinical implications for early adolescent emotional development are discussed.