Stability of distinct relational profiles of adolescent sibling relationships and friendships: A latent transition analysis

This study examined similarities in adolescent sibling and friend relationship quality over an 8-month period during COVID-19. We hypothesized that youth would perceive the qualities of their friendships and sibships in similar ways and that these patterns would remain stable during this period. Participants included 312 adolescents ( M = 15.75, SD = 1.20) who rated positive (e.g., companionship) and negative (e.g., conflict) aspects in both relationships at both times. Cross-sectional latent profile analyses supported two profiles, namely an ambivalent sibship/harmonious friendship (i.e., moderate sibling warmth and conflict, high friendship positivity, low friendship negativity) profile and an affect-intense (i.e., high positivity, high negativity) profile that were similar across both relationships. Latent transition analyses demonstrated that most adolescents fit into the ambivalent sibship/harmonious friendship profile (89% at T1, 91% at T2) relative to the affect-intense profile (11% at T1, 9% at T2). Most (97%) adolescents in the ambivalent sibship/harmonious friendship profile at T1 remained in the profile at T2, whereas 57% of youth in the affect-intense profile remained in the same profile at T2. Adolescents who remained in the affect-intense profile reported more frequent sibling and friend aggression perpetration and friend, but not sibling, aggression victimization than those who remained in the ambivalent sibship/harmonious friendship profile. These results highlight the contextual dynamics of adolescent relationships, especially the importance in recognizing the similarities among sibships and friendships.