EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEER RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY UNPREDICTABILITY AND SOCIAL APPEARANCE ANXIETY AND EMOTIONAL AUTONOMY IN ADOLESCENTS

The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between peer relationships, family unpredictability and social appearance anxiety and the emotional autonomy levels of individuals in adolescence.The sample of the study consists of a total of 442 high school students, 278 girls and 164 boys, studying in science high schools, Anatolian high schools and vocational high schools in Istanbul in the 2023-2024 academic year.The age range of the adolescents included in the study is between 13 and 18 years old.The study was conducted on a voluntary basis while collecting data.The data of the study were collected through the Emotional Autonomy Scale (EAS), Retrospective Family Unpredictability Scale (REAS), Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS), Peer Relationship Scale (PRA) and Demographic Information Forms.When the analyses were examined; it can be said that there is a statistically significant negative relationship between family unpredictability and emotional autonomy.Social appearance anxiety negatively correlates with emotional autonomy, while peer relationships show a positive correlation.Emotional autonomy levels vary by class level and high school type but not by gender.Additionally, social appearance anxiety, peer relationships, and family unpredictability predict adolescent autonomy.Findings were discussed alongside similar studies, with recommendations for practitioners and researchers.