Revisiting the Hypothesis That Friends Buffer Against Diminished Self-Esteem Arising From Poor Quality Parent–Adolescent Relationships:A Replication Study

This replication study revisited conclusions from 2 previous investigations (Gauze, Bukowski, Aquan-Assee, & Sippola, 1996; van Aken & Asendorpf, 1997), which suggested that support from friendsbuffers against diminished self-esteem arising from poor quality relationships with mothers during thetransition into adolescence. The aim of this replication study was to conduct an independent test of thesefindings with both concurrent and longitudinal data. Concurrent data for replication analyses were drawnfrom 4 projects, involving a total of 959 boys and 1,119 girls (ages 10 to 14) from Canada and the UnitedStates. Three samples reported participant ethnic descent: Africa (12.1%), Asia (5.6%), Europe (65.3%), LatinAmerica (12.1%), and Native North America (0.9%). Child and mother reports of mother–child relationshipquality assayed (a) maternal social support (in 3 data sets), and (b) family cohesion and adaptability (in 2 datasets). Main effects were replicated but hypothesized buffering effects were not. Maternal social support andfriend social support were independently associated with adolescent self-esteem, concurrently, but notlongitudinally. Family cohesion (but not adaptability) was associated with adolescent self-esteem, concurrentlyand longitudinally. Friend social support did not moderate associations between mother–child relationshipquality and adolescent self-esteem, concurrently or longitudinally. The findings are consistent with acumulative effects model wherein friends uniquely contribute to adolescent self-worth, over and above thecontribution of mothers.