Family Emotional Involvements and the Quality of Adolescents' Relationship with Peers: The Mediating Role of the Quality of Parent-Child Interactions

This Study aimed to investigate the mediating role of parent-child interactions in the relationship between family emotional involvement and the quality of adolescents' relationship with peers in Kermanshah. This was a correlational study and the statistical population included 55 thousand students in Kermanshah in the academic year of 95-96. Then 240 students were selected through multi-stage cluster sampling method and completed the Family Emotional Involvement and Criticism Scale (Shields, Franks, Harp, Campbell, & McDaniel, 1994), the Index of Peer Relations (Hudson, Norius, Dolly & Newsham, 1990), and the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale (Barnes & Olson, 1982). Data were analyzed by path analysis. The results showed that among direct paths, only the path coefficient of the intensity of emotional involvement to the relationship with peers was not significant. The quality of parent-child interactions played a mediating role in the relationship of family emotional involvements and perceived blame with the quality of relationship with peers. Thus, it can be concluded that by enhancing open exchanges and expressing emotions in the family environment, the quality of the relationship between adolescents and their peers can be improved.