Is peer adversity in childhood and adolescence linked to interpersonal functioning in adulthood? A meta-analytic review

Huang S, Heininga V, Kretschmer T (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Child Development Wiley-Blackwell

Book Volume: 97

Pages Range: 1429-1445

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1093/chidev/aacag043

Abstract

This meta-analysis synthesizes research on longitudinal associations between child and adolescent peer adversity and various domains of adult interpersonal functioning. Meta-analyses were conducted on 240 effect sizes from 39 studies published between 1998 and 2024, unadjusted and adjusted for gender, socioeconomic status, and childhood family adversity. Participants (Ntotal = 51,139, proportion of girls = 54.3%, average duration to follow-up = 11.6 years) come from 28 samples that were primarily based in Europe or North America. Peer adversity was linked to adult interpersonal functioning in unadjusted (r = −.15) and adjusted models (r = −.15), but no robust moderators were found. These findings highlight the importance of mitigating a broad range of peer adversity to foster healthy relationships in adulthood.

Authors with CRIS profile

Tina Kretschmer Lehrstuhl für Entwicklungspsychologie und Pädagogische Psychologie

Involved external institutions

University of Groningen / Rijksuniversiteit Groningen NL Netherlands (NL)

How to cite

APA:

Huang, S., Heininga, V., & Kretschmer, T. (2026). Is peer adversity in childhood and adolescence linked to interpersonal functioning in adulthood? A meta-analytic review. Child Development, 97(4), 1429-1445. https://doi.org/10.1093/chidev/aacag043

MLA:

Huang, Shuiqing, Vera Heininga, and Tina Kretschmer. "Is peer adversity in childhood and adolescence linked to interpersonal functioning in adulthood? A meta-analytic review." Child Development 97.4 (2026): 1429-1445.

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