Adolescent perceptions of reciprocity, authority, and closeness in relationships with mothers, fathers, and friends

Abstract

Adolescents in Germany and the United States completed questionnaires describing reciprocity, authority, and closeness in relationships with mothers, fathers, and friends. Reciprocity was linked to authority within and across friendships and parent-child relationships; reciprocity and authority were linked to closeness within and across parent-child relationships, but neither within friendships nor across friendships and parent-child relationships. Median splits divided adolescents into high and low closeness groups for each relationship to determine differences in reciprocity and authority. Patterns of reciprocity varied as a function of relationship closeness and nationality, as well as by age and gender. Patterns of authority differed by nationality only.