A new study from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has shown just how important having close siblings and best friends are to social and emotional well-being in early adolescence.
The study, led by psychology professor Ryan Persram and published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, found that strong bonds with siblings and friends can decrease loneliness, unhappiness and sadness, and help kids cope with family dysfunction.
“Today, parents and families are facing many challenges that can impact how well Canadian youth are able to develop and cope,” said Professor Persram. “Every family faces their own difficulties, and this research speaks to the role of certain relationships, specifically siblings and friends, as key social partners that can help teens manage their well-being in the face of different family-related stressors.”
More than 300 children aged 10 to 13 and their parents participated in the study. Researchers examined parents’ perceptions of family functioning, early adolescents’ reports of internalizing difficulties and depressed feelings, and the role of siblings and best friends in buffering the impacts of poor family functioning.
The study found that the ways families operate have a lasting impact on adolescent adjustment. In a family that lacks organization and accountability, youth may experience greater instability and uncertainty. This type of family functioning predicts increases in depressed affect among early adolescents and may be a risk factor for internalizing difficulties.
However, secure relationships with a sibling or best friend was found to have a protective effect. When children felt confident their relationship with their sibling or best friend would last no matter what, they had greater assurance that a support system would be present in times of need. Early adolescents who experienced family disorganization or dysfunction but had stronger sibling and best friend relationships experienced lower levels of loneliness, unhappiness and sadness.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, where family members have intense contact and communication, the extreme closeness might hinder adolescents’ increased needs for personal development. Close relationships with friends outside the family could help children achieve developmental goals such as gaining increased autonomy as they get older.
More information:
Ryan J. Persram et al, Family functioning and youth adjustment: The role of sibling and friend security, Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2025.101829
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