Age related changes in relationship closeness, reciprocity, and authority during adolescence

One hundred and ninety-four 12 to 20 year old adolescents were administered two self-report questionnaires in order to examine interrelations and age related changes in relationship closeness, reciprocity, and authority with parents, peers, and romantic partners. It was hypothesized that, with age, adolescent's relations with parents would become less close and more mutual, while adolescent relations with peers and romantic partners would become closer with age. It was also hypothesized that subjects who have closer relationships with romantic partners would also have more mutual relationships with romantic partners. Results indicated that adolescents relations with parents became closer, but not more mutual, with age. Adolescent's relations with peers did not become closer with age, while adolescents relations with romantic partners became closer with age. In the romantic partner relationship, closer relationships were more mutual ones.