The relative importance of parents and friends in adolescent decision making

Abstract

In this study 175 older adolescents (83 males, 92 females) nominated their parents, particularly their mothers, then friends of the same sex, as people most important in their lives. While parents were rated as more important than friends overall, problems were more frequently discussed with close friends. Using a matched sampling design, the adolescents' own mothers, fathers, and a close friend of the same sex also responded to a scale where parents' or friends' opinions might be sought as part of adolescent decision making. As predicted, parents were perceived as most important in certain "future-oriented" areas, whereas for "current" decisions, friends' opinions were more valued. Several areas of possible parent-peer conflict were also identified.

Pirate or Buy? The Moderating Effect of Idolatry

“…Although LaRose and Kim's study (2007) suggested that subjective norms do not have a direct effect on teenagers' intention to illegally download music, this might be because the significant others in their study are parents or the university (teachers or school regulations). However, prior studies found that peer influence is critical for adolescents' behavior, particularly for current decisions (Wilks, 1986) such as drug use or drinking (Wilks et al, 1989). The influences of seniority are significant for future decisions such as life or career planning.…”

The relationship between female adolescent self‐esteem, decision making, and contraceptive behavior

“…Some contradictions were reported in descriptions of discussions between adolescents and parents about sexual activity showing that outcomes can be different depending on who was reporting the discussions (Newcomer & Udry, 2005). Adolescents perceived their parents as most important in influencing their long-term decisions (Wilks, 1986;Wyatt, 1989).…”

Effects of maternal employment patterns on adolescents' substance use and other risk-taking behaviors

“…For example, supervision may be accomplished through telephone contacts and written messages, making visual and physical proximity less critical. In any case, Seabald (1986) and Wilks (1986) reported that parents were perceived by adolescents as more important sources of assistance and influence in future oriented areas (e.g., careers, finances, education), rather than for current issues (e.g., social activities), where peer opinions were more important. And, contrary to frequent negative stereotypes, the influence of the peer group is often positive and beneficial.…”

“…As a result of reduced parental monitoring, Dishion and Loeber (1985) found an increased frequency of adolescent drug use, a reduction in parents' knowledge of their children's whereabouts during after-school hours, and an increasing difference between mothers' and youngsters' selfreport of deviant behavior. Thus, the developmental and role transitions of adolescence when accompanied by a decrease in parental control and monitoring (as defined in this study as dual wage-earner families) may place adolescents at greater risk for problem behaviors (Richardson et al, 1989).The present study extends the literature on parental work patterns and early adolescence (Orthner, 1990) to a broader age range and focuses on a variety of substance use and other risk-taking variables that were selected due to (a) their prevalence during this developmental period (Jessor & Jessor, 1977;Johnston, O'Malley, & Bachman, 1986), (b) their potentially deleterious effects (Millstein & Irwin, 1988), (c) the role that decreased parental monitoring may play in their occurrence (Dishion & Loeber, 1985), (d) the increased importance of the peer group at this age and its influence on present vs future-oriented behavior (Seabald, 1986;Wilks, 1986), and (e) the tendency for youngsters to shift from behaviors of less risk to behaviors of greater risk in group situations (Wallach, Kogan, & Bern, 1962, 1964.For completeness, as well as for clarification of a mixed literature, additional independent variables were selected. The effects of gender (Lerner & Galambos, 1988) were included because sex differences have been reported in the literature, with males using alcohol and marijuana with greater frequency and in greater quantities than females (Labouvie & McGee, 1986), and females smoking cigarettes more frequently than males (Newcomb & Bentler, 1989;Welte & Barnes, 1987).…”