Girl Friend, Boy Friend, Girlfriend, Boyfriend: Broadening our Understanding of Heterosocial Competence

Abstract

Heterosocial interactions, or social interactions with other-sex peers, are theorized to serve a number of unique developmental functions for adolescents (e.g., companionship, intimacy, experimentation with sex-role behaviors and sexual activity). Yet despite the importance of heterosocial competence in adolescent social development, there exists little research on the construct. Early research, although informative, reflects a narrow focus on heterosocial anxiety associated with date initiation situations. More recent research has broadened its purview to include investigations of the relation of heterosocial competence to the normative development of romantic relationships, as well as depression, anxiety, and violence in adolescent relationships. To facilitate further research, an expanded, well-defined description of the construct of adolescent heterosocial competence is needed that includes other-sex interactions in casual relationships, friendships, and romantic relationships. In this article we detail the historical and current definitions of the construct and encourage a broader understanding in the context of the developmental psychopathology framework. We follow with a review of our decade-long efforts to better operationally define and assess the construct by summarizing the development and validation of two measures: The Measure of Adolescent Heterosocial Competence and the Measure of Adolescent Heterosocial Competence-Young Adult Version. Finally, we suggest directions for future research.

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“…The gender of one's friend has been related to friendship experiences, includ ing the promotion of psychosocial adjustment (Grover et al, 2007). However, it was surprising that our study found that men with same gender friends reported higher levels of friendship quality (including intimate disclosure) than those with other gender friends, because their friendships with women are typically more intimate than their friendships with men (Roy et al, 2000).…”

“…Although the current study found that women reported higher levels of self esteem, the literature was mixed with some finding lower levels (Orth, Trzesniewski, & Robins, 2010) and others finding higher levels (Grover et al, 2007) for women. Further, these gender differences tended to diminish only after the age of 30 (Orth et al, 2010).…”

“…Specifically, a steady increase of self esteem occurs from ado lescence to middle adulthood, when thereafter it declines (Orth, Robins, & Widaman, 2012). Reports of gender differences have been mixed, with some studies reporting emerging adult women as having lower levels of self esteem (Galambos, Barker, & Krahn, 2006), and other studies reporting higher levels of self esteem (Grover et al, 2007) compared to emerging adult men. Given that self esteem has been shown to decrease when individuals face multiple transitions (e.g., early adolescent girls who experience simultaneous pubertal and school transitions; Simmons & Blyth, 1987), it is important to study self esteem in emerging adulthood, a time of instability in social networks (Arnett, 2011).…”

Social Networking, Religious Similarity, and Moral Reasoning: Potential Causes of Revolution

“…Although the current study found that women reported higher levels of selfesteem, the literature was mixed with some finding lower levels (Orth, Trzesniewski, & Robins, 2010) and others finding higher levels (Grover et al, 2007) for women. Further, these gender differences tended to diminish only after the age of 30 (Orth et al, 2010).…”

“…Specifically, a steady increase of selfesteem occurs from ado lescence to middle adulthood, when thereafter it declines (Orth, Robins, & Widaman, 2012). Reports of gender differences have been mixed, with some studies reporting emergingadult women as having lower levels of selfesteem (Galambos, Barker, & Krahn, 2006), and other studies reporting higher levels of selfesteem (Grover et al, 2007) compared to emergingadult men. Given that selfesteem has been shown to decrease when individuals face multiple transitions (e.g., early adolescent girls who experience simultaneous pubertal and school transitions; Simmons & Blyth, 1987), it is important to study selfesteem in emerging adulthood, a time of instability in social networks (Arnett, 2011).…”