Adolescents’ depressive symptoms and conflict resolution styles towards one’s best friend: interpersonal processes over six-years

Abstract

This 6-year longitudinal study examined the relationship between three conflict resolution styles (i.e., problem solving, conflict engagement and compliance) and depressive symptoms in adolescent-best friend relationships, using the actor-partner interdependence model. This model comprises both the adolescent’s influence on one’s conflict resolution and depressive symptoms (actor effects) and reciprocal dyadic influences of the adolescent’s best friend (partner effects). Participants were 479 adolescents and their best friend who reported annually on their depressive symptoms and conflict resolution styles towards each other. Three models were tested; each of these models included depressive symptoms and one of the conflict resolution styles. In all models a positive partner effect of depressive symptoms of one dyad member on depressive symptoms of the other member was found. For the problem solving model, a positive partner effect of adolescent’s problem solving on best friend’s problem solving over time was found. Additionally, a higher level of depressive symptoms of one dyad member was related to higher use of problem solving by the other member over time. For the conflict engagement model, a positive actor effect was found of one’s depressive symptoms on one’s own conflict engagement and a positive partner effect was found of conflict engagement of one dyad member on conflict engagement of the other member. Finally, for the compliance model, a positive actor effect was found of one’s depressive symptoms on one’s own compliance. In conclusion, this study found that both the adolescent’s and their best friend’s depressive symptoms and conflict resolution styles influence one another.