American scientists from the University of Arkansas have found a connection between friendships in adolescence and a sense of well-being as they grow older. The study was published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Developmental Psychology (FDP).
The experts' conclusions are based on surveys of 184 people at different ages: 13-14 years old, 17-18 years old and 28-30 years old.
Questions for participants focused on their friendships, perceived social acceptance, and peer attractiveness. Recent surveys have covered topics such as physical and mental health, job satisfaction, romantic life and experiences of aggression.
The researchers found that perceived social acceptance was the best predictor of well-being in adulthood.
When followed up as adults, teens who felt liked by their peers reported lower levels of social anxiety and aggression, better physical health, professional and romantic satisfaction, and a sense of greater social connection.
However, adolescents' peer-reported liking did not predict any aspect of well-being in adulthood—perhaps suggesting that adolescents' own perceptions of their social success are especially important.
When the authors looked at the two stages of adolescence separately, well-being in adulthood was best predicted by social acceptance for young adolescents and close friendships in later adolescence.
Close friendships predicted lower social anxiety and romantic uncertainty, as well as higher job satisfaction.
The difference between the two stages of adolescence also suggests that timing is of the essence. Although self-perceived success may halt the development of social anxiety in younger adolescents and help prevent stress-related poor health, lower levels of social acceptance in later adolescence do not predict health outcomes.
