Association between Friendship Quality and Subjective Wellbeing in Adolescents: Social Network Analysis and Investigation of Moderators

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a crucial stage in the development of wellbeing. Recent global trends show a decline in various wellbeing indicators among adolescents. One factor that influences this is peer relationships, which become more important during this stage. Friendships at school form a major part of adolescents’ social lives and may have a strong effect on their wellbeing. This thesis explores both cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between school friendship quality and different dimensions of subjective wellbeing among adolescents. It also examines how behavioral homophily may influence these relationships.

Methods: A multi-staged approach was adopted, beginning with a systematic review of 43 studies examining the association between friendship quality and subjective wellbeing (Chapter 2). Two cross-sectional analyses were conducted (Chapter 4) to investigate the relationship between friendship quality and subjective wellbeing among adolescents aged 13–18 years in Northern Ireland. Finally, a two-wave longitudinal social network study (Chapter 5), using the same dataset, was carried out to examine how friendship quality and the maintenance of friendships over time influence students’ subjective wellbeing. Multilevel models with network effects assessed the impact on three outcomes: overall subjective wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, and moods and emotions. Behavioral homophily in tobacco use, alcohol use, and physical activity was also tested as a moderator.

Results: The review found consistent cross-sectional associations between friendship quality and wellbeing. Cross-sectional analyses confirmed these patterns, with more variation in moods and emotions. Longitudinal findings showed that improved friendship quality enhanced wellbeing, while persistent ties had mixed effects. Behavioral homophily moderated these relationships in behavior-specific ways.

Conclusion: High-quality friendships support adolescent wellbeing, while friendship stability presents a more complex picture. These findings stress the need for school-based interventions that foster meaningful peer relationships and consider shared behaviors within friendship networks.