Linking family relationships with peer relationships based on spillover theory: A positive perspective

Abstract

This study employed a cross-sectional design to investigate the direct and indirect linkages among family relationships (i.e., interparental closeness and mother-child and father-child closeness) and peer relationships (i.e., social preference and number of friendships) based on spillover theory from a positive perspective. Data were collected in 2016. Participants consisted of 992 fourth to ninth graders (Mage = 12.6 years, 48.1% male) as well as both of their parents in China. Parents’ and children’s self-report measures for family relationships and children’s love and sociometric methods for peer relationships were used. The results of path analysis showed the following: (1) mother-child closeness was directly linked to children being preferred by peers; (2) interparental, mother-child, and father-child closeness were indirectly and positively linked to social preference and the number of friendships through children’s love and mother-child closeness was linked interparental closeness to friendships; and (3) multigroup analyses revealed several developmental differences in the indirect family-peer linkage. Implications of findings are discussed.

Peer Relationship Profiles among Early Adolescents from Low-Income Families: The Unique and Combined Effects of Attachment to Mothers and Conscientiousness

“…From the perspective of both adolescents and parents, mothers are often regarded as the primary caregivers within the family, a notion particularly pronounced in Chinese society [23]. Following the spillover theory [20,21,24], youth carry relationship dynamics from one context (e.g., mother-child relationships) to the other (peer relationships). In addition to this proximal context, the optimal socioemotional functions are determined by ecological factors embedded in multiple environmental and personal layers [25].…”