Early and middle adolescents' trust in parents and friends
Abstract
This study (a) investigated the characteristics and patterning of early and middle adolescents' trust in mothers, fathers, and best friends; and (b) identified links between interpersonal trust, family factors, and adolescents' adjustment. Two samples (Arkansas, $n=548,$ Indiana, $n=316)$ of 6th, 7th, 9th, and 10th grade participants completed measures of trust in parents and best friends, parenting styles, family environment, and psychological adjustment. Factor analyses showed that interpersonal trust is a multidimensional construct comprised of two distinct yet related aspects, which were labeled as Dependability Beliefs and Sharing Confidences. Early and middle adolescents were similar in their willingness to depend on mothers and fathers. With increasing age, adolescents were less likely to share private thoughts, feelings, and secrets with parents. While daughters and sons were similar in their willingness to depend on parents, daughters reported sharing confidences more with mothers and less with fathers than did sons. Differences among family types (i.e., families with two natural parents, a single parent, or a stepparent) were found for the Dependability Beliefs factor (adolescents were more willing to depend on natural parents than on stepparents), but not for the Sharing Confidences factor. Contrary to expectations, adolescents' trust in best friends did not vary with age, but females reported greater trust in friends than did males. Further analyses revealed that adolescents trust natural mothers more than fathers or stepfathers. Females were more willing to depend on best friends than on parents, whereas males were more willing to depend on mothers than on friends. Adolescents reported sharing confidences with best friends more than with either mothers or fathers, and these differences were greater for females and for older adolescents. The relationships between trust and adolescents' reports of parenting styles support the view that adolescents with parents who are warm and involved are more willing to trust in parents and friends. Adolescents who lived in families characterized by cohesion and a lack of conflict reported higher trust in parents than did adolescents from less cohesive and more conflictual families. Finally, adolescents with greater trust in parents reported higher sociability, self-esteem, and GPA, and lower hostility and depression/anxiety. Future research on the development of trust during adolescence is discussed.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Berndt, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Developmental psychology|Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology|Social psychology
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