Girls in early adolescence who form friendships with boys are at high risk for substance abuse problems.
Girls in early adolescence who form friendships with boys are at high risk for substance abuse problems.
In childhood, boys and girls tend to form friendships almost exclusively with same-sex peers. Around early adolescence, they gradually begin to include other-sex friends in their network. Peer relationships are considered to be one of the main risk factors for substance use.
The researchers studied 400 female and male participants, aged 12 to 18 years, in Canada who were interviewed annually over seven years about their friendship network and use of alcohol and drugs. It was found that girls tend to make the change to mixed-gender friendships earlier than boys, and continue this transition at a more rapid pace through adolescence.
The researchers also found that girls who did move to mixed-gender friendships early and quickly were more likely to develop substance abuse problems during late adolescence. Antisocial behaviour and early physical maturity accelerated the increase in girls' numbers of male friends, who tended to be older and who didn't go to the same school. This may be because older boys provide younger girls with a way of obtaining alcohol. However, for boys, the formation of other-sex friendships was not associated with later substance use problems. Boys reported receiving higher levels of emotional support from their other-sex friends, whereas girls received more support from their same-sex friends. It is possible that having other-sex friends is protective for boys because they gain emotional support and are therefore less likely to engage in problem behaviour.
The above findings suggest that parents should take a more active role in monitoring their daughters' friendships, especially with older boys.
The study results show that girls tend to initiate the transition to a mixed-gender friendship network earlier than boys, and continue this transition at a faster pace during adolescence. As a result girls who experienced this transition early and fast are more likely to develop substance abuse problems during late adolescence.
In childhood, boys and girls tend to form friendships almost exclusively with same-sex peers. Around early adolescence, they gradually begin to include other-sex friends in their network. Peer relationships are considered to be one of the main risk factors for substance use.
The researchers studied 400 female and male participants, aged 12 to 18 years, in Canada who were interviewed annually over seven years about their friendship network and use of alcohol and drugs. It was found that girls tend to make the change to mixed-gender friendships earlier than boys, and continue this transition at a more rapid pace through adolescence.
The researchers also found that girls who did move to mixed-gender friendships early and quickly were more likely to develop substance abuse problems during late adolescence. Antisocial behaviour and early physical maturity accelerated the increase in girls' numbers of male friends, who tended to be older and who didn't go to the same school. This may be because older boys provide younger girls with a way of obtaining alcohol. However, for boys, the formation of other-sex friendships was not associated with later substance use problems. Boys reported receiving higher levels of emotional support from their other-sex friends, whereas girls received more support from their same-sex friends. It is possible that having other-sex friends is protective for boys because they gain emotional support and are therefore less likely to engage in problem behaviour.
The above findings suggest that parents should take a more active role in monitoring their daughters' friendships, especially with older boys.
The study results show that girls tend to initiate the transition to a mixed-gender friendship network earlier than boys, and continue this transition at a faster pace during adolescence. As a result girls who experienced this transition early and fast are more likely to develop substance abuse problems during late adolescence.
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