Teen friendships are fundamental to teenagers as they impact  various aspects of a teenager’s life. These friendships contribute to a teenager’s overall growth, happiness, and well-being.

To feel a sense of belonging and acceptance from friends are important to teenagers. Thus, young people reach out and find close connections with friends. Teen friendships are a source of peer support and validation, helping teens cope with the stress and challenges they may encounter.

These friendships are safe spaces for teens to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. When a teen has a group of friends supporting them, they feel less alone, are happier, and more confident, which is a boost to their emotional and mental well-being.

Research studies show that teen friendships are linked to psychological well-being. According to these studies, having close friendships enhances self-esteem and increases the feeling of belonging and acceptance for teenagers. Apparently, teen friendships provide a sense of validation that helps teenagers feel understood and valued. This support system has a positive effect on the mental state of teenagers, and can also prevent the occurrence of mental health issues.

One research study, done by Narr, Allen, and others (2019), revealed that teenagers who were integrated into friendship networks had better mental health as measured by a number of depressive symptoms. Teens with more friends had a stronger sense of belonging and thus had fewer symptoms of depression.

Other benefits of teen friendship are as follows:

• Higher-functioning immune system
• Better self-esteem
• Lower rates of anxiety
• Happier, more optimistic outlook
• Longer life expectancy
• Stronger emotional regulation skills
• Improved cognitive function
• More empathy and feelings of trust toward others

It is crucial then for teens to cultivate strong and positive friendships as they significantly impact their mental health and overall well-being. Teenagers who have close friends often experience reduced feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety. These friendships provide a support system where teens can share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, helping them navigate the challenges of adolescence.

Aside from making a teenager feel happy, teen friendships is also important factor in a teenager’s sense of identity. During this crucial stage, teenagers are learning to navigate through various social interactions and discover their sense of self. Friendships affect the development of identity in adolescents in a process called friendship socialization. During the teenage years, an adolescent is figuring out who they are outside of their family. The shared interest, struggles, and experiences they have with friends affect their personalities and choices and can have lingering influence on them.

Moreover, having friends that validate their emotions enhances their self-esteem and self-worth, which in turn promote a positive self-identity.

The Five Dimensions of Friendship

There are five dimensions that characterize the quality of a friendship according to Bukowski, Hoza, and Boivin (1994):

1. Closeness
2. Companionship
3. Conflict
4. Helping
5. Security

Friendship should have higher levels of closeness, companionship, helping, and security, while having minimal levels of conflict.

Having quality friendships in teenagers is associated with improved self-esteem, use of positive coping skills, and better adjustment. When teens have quality friendships, they are able to cope with challenges much easier compared to those who are unable to develop good friendships. Teens who have no friends feel alone, isolated, and unsupported and, thus, find difficult situations hard to deal with.

Qualities of  a Good Friend

Knowing the qualities and characteristics of a good friend can help you make new, meaningful connections and maintain them as well. Here are the qualities of a good friend according to Health for Teens:

• A good friend is there for you no matter what, and will always have your back when things get difficult.
• A good friend will comfort you when you are upset or crying.
• A good friend will laugh with you and make you smile.
• A good friend is kind, respectful, and listens to you.
• A good friend is trustworthy and willing to tell you the truth, even when it’s hard for you to hear.
• A good friend will encourage you to be a better person and inspire you to achieve more in life.
• Most importantly, a good friend is someone that you enjoy talking to and spending time with.

Making Friends

Friendship takes effort. These valuable connections do not always come naturally or easily for teenagers. Making friends involves a series of skills that can be acquired through practice. Here are friendship tips that can help you be a good friend according to Health for Teens:

• Make time for your friends and be a good listener, offering advice and support when needed.
• Be trustworthy and keep your promises and secrets as best you can.
• Apologize if you have made a mistake. Remember, not everyone is perfect and mistakes happen, so be willing to work through any disagreements or arguments.
• Just be yourself and accept your friend for who they are.
• Be respectful of your friends opinions, beliefs or feelings.
• Encourage and support your friend, and help them grow as a person.
• Look out for them even if it means getting support from others to help keep them safe. This might be difficult to do and your friend may not like it at the time, but they will be grateful of your support later on.

Friendships during the teenage years are important, offering belonging and meaning in a teenager’s life. With the right friends, teenagers can navigate these crucial years successfully.

Sources:

Health for Teens. “Friendship: Just the Facts.” Accessed May 4, 2024. https://www.healthforteens.co.uk/relationships/friendships/friendship-just-the-facts/.

Newport Academy. “The Importance of Teen Friendship.” Accessed May 4, 2024. https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/empowering-teens/teen-friendships/.

Thrive. “Why Are Teen Friendships So Important to Mental Health. Last modified February 25, 2021. https://www.thrivetrainingconsulting.com/why-are-teen-friendships-so-important-to-mental-health/.

Weber, Madison. “Nurturing Mental Health in Teen Friendship and Relationships.” Accessed May 4, 2024. https://insidepsychotherapynyc.com/2023/11/14/nurturing-mental-health-in-teen-friendships-and-relationships/.