Summary: New research shows that friendships formed during adolescence shape wellbeing into adulthood. Both the type of connections teens form and the timing of those relationships matter: broad social acceptance in early adolescence predicts better mental and physical health later on, while the quality of intimate friendships in late adolescence relates to stronger job satisfaction and more secure romantic relationships.
Young people who felt widely accepted by their peers during early adolescence reported lower anxiety, reduced aggressive behavior, and improved physical health when followed into adulthood. The study suggests that how teenagers perceive their social standing often forecasts long-term wellbeing, underscoring the value of supporting teens through social challenges to build resilience and long-term success.
Key Facts:
- Early social acceptance: A teenager’s sense of being accepted by peers in early adolescence is a strong predictor of adult mental health.
- Close friendships: The quality of close friendships in later adolescence is linked to adult relationship satisfaction and work wellbeing.
- Long-term impact: Teens who feel socially accepted tend to experience lower adult anxiety and aggression and report better overall health.
Source: Frontiers
Being a teenager is challenging but also a formative period. Researchers examining adolescent social life found that friendships in the teenage years—both their nature and their timing—help shape wellbeing years later.
“A teen’s perception of how broadly socially accepted they are by their peers in early adolescence is particularly influential in predicting adult wellbeing,” said Emily Shah of the University of Arkansas, the study’s first author, published in Frontiers in Developmental Psychology.
“Conversely, in late adolescence, the quality of more intimate close friendships appears to be more influential in predicting adult wellbeing,” the authors note.
Coming of age
Our relationships shape self-image, social functioning, and psychological health, which in turn influence physical wellbeing. This process is especially pronounced during adolescence, when young people increasingly rely on peer support and face the physical and emotional changes of puberty.
Friendships also help teens navigate stressful transitions—such as exams, first jobs, and leaving home—by offering support and opportunities to practice interpersonal skills.
“Friendships during the teenage years give youth an early experience of intimate, consensual relationships,” said Dr. David Szwedo of James Madison University, corresponding author. “Because friendships can change over time, adolescents learn how to maintain and grow relationships or manage their loss. Those skills are likely to carry forward into adult friendships and romantic relationships.”
The research team followed 184 students from an American middle school. Participants were surveyed at ages 13–14 and again at 17–18. At each stage researchers measured close friendship quality, self-perceived social acceptance, and peer-rated likability. The same individuals were reassessed as adults aged 28–30, when the researchers collected information on physical and mental health, job satisfaction, romantic insecurity, and experiences of aggression.
Friendships are teenagers’ foundations
Across the full span of adolescence, self-perceived social acceptance emerged as the most consistent predictor of adult wellbeing. Adults who recalled feeling liked and accepted by their peers as teens reported lower social anxiety and aggression, better physical health, higher professional and romantic satisfaction, and a stronger sense of social connection.
Interestingly, peer-rated likability—how much classmates reported liking a teen—was not a strong predictor of adult wellbeing. This suggests that an adolescent’s own sense of social success and belonging may matter more for long-term outcomes than external ratings.
When early and late adolescence were analyzed separately, distinct patterns emerged: perceived social acceptance in early adolescence best predicted adult outcomes, while close friendship quality in late adolescence was a better predictor of reduced social anxiety, lower romantic insecurity, and greater job satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of timing—what matters most early on may differ from what matters later in the teen years.
You aren’t alone
The authors caution that the study’s longitudinal design meant the participants were not in school during the Covid-19 pandemic; the pandemic’s effects on social experiences could influence outcomes for more recent cohorts. The research also relied largely on self-reported measures, so future studies that include observational data could deepen understanding.
“I want teens to know that they aren’t alone,” said Shah. “It’s not easy being a teenager in this world, and I choose to believe that teens are doing the best they can with the skills they have. I hope adults who interact with teenagers can hold space for empathy and compassion.”
“Keep in mind that studies like this describe average tendencies; individual experiences may vary,” added Szwedo. “Caregivers benefit from staying involved in their children’s social lives—talking with kids, communicating with teachers, and being aware of online interactions. Asking not only who their teens’ friends are but also how accepted they feel can be especially helpful.”
About this neurodevelopment and psychology research news
Author: Angharad Brewer Gillham
Source: Frontiers
Contact: Angharad Brewer Gillham – Frontiers
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access. “Adolescent Close Friendships, Self-Perceived Social Acceptance, and Peer-Rated Likeability as Predictors of Well-Being in Young Adulthood” by Emily Shah et al., Frontiers in Developmental Psychology.
Abstract
Adolescent Close Friendships, Self-Perceived Social Acceptance, and Peer-Rated Likeability as Predictors of Well-Being in Young Adulthood
Introduction: The connection between interpersonal relationships and both physical and psychological functioning is well established. During adolescence, successes or difficulties in peer relations may differently affect various aspects of later wellbeing.
This study examines how different adolescent peer contexts—close friendship quality, self-perceived social acceptance, and peer-rated likability—predict adult outcomes such as social anxiety, depression, aggression, social integration, romantic insecurity, job satisfaction, and physical health. It also explores whether these links vary by developmental stage within adolescence.
Method: Peer relationship contexts were assessed in early (ages 13–14) and late (ages 17–18) adolescence. Wellbeing markers were measured in young adulthood (ages 28–30). Path analysis tested whether the timing of adolescent peer contexts predicted adult wellbeing.
Results: Across adolescence, broader self-perceived social acceptance was a more robust predictor of adult wellbeing than close friendship quality or peer-rated likability. When early and late adolescence were examined separately, early adolescent social acceptance and later adolescent close friendship quality best predicted adult wellbeing outcomes.
Discussion: The findings highlight the need to consider developmental timing when supporting adolescent social development and suggest directions for future research.