CHILDRENS AND ADOLESCENTS INTERPERSONAL-RELATIONS - DO AGE, RACE, AND GENDER DEFINE NORMALCY

This study investigated age, gender, and race trends in the development of children's and adolescents' interpersonal relations with their mothers, fathers, male peers, female peers, and teachers. A nation-wide sample of 1,724 White, Black, and Hispanic children and adolescents rated their relationships on the Assessment of Interpersonal Relations scale. Results showed significant variability in relationship type as a function of age, race, and gender characteristics of the students- The analyses depicted children's and adolescents' relationship development as a complex multidimensional phenomenon and suggest that understanding the sequence and nature of children's relationship development should be the foundation upon which clinical practice and further research are based.