With a little help from my friends? Perceived friendship quality and narrative identity in adolescence

Abstract

Stressful events are associated with various outcomes, but there is variability in these associations suggesting that the interpretation of these events is important. This interpretation is reflected in the narratives adolescents tell of events, which are largely constructed in social interactions. We examined the associations of perceived friendship quality with self-event connections and redemption in turning point narratives, in a sample of Dutch adolescents. Findings from regression analyses in a cross-sectional subsample (N = 1087, Mage = 14.8) and a three-wave cross-lagged panel model in a longitudinal subsample (N = 186, Mage at Wave 1 = 14.7) showed that perceived friendship quality was associated with the presence of redemption sequences and self-event connections within time points, but not longitudinally.