Family functioning and youth adjustment: The role of sibling and friend security

The present study examined the extent to which specific facets of family functioning were associated with adolescents' internalizing difficulties and the moderating effect of relationship security with a sibling and a best friend. This two-wave longitudinal study included 335 adolescents ( M = 10.86, SD = 0.73) who completed a series of questionnaires on sibling and best friend security, as well as internalizing difficulties. Parents completed a measure on family functioning, which included two balanced scales (i.e., cohesion, flexibility) and four unbalanced scales (i.e., chaos, rigidity, enmeshment, disengagement). Results indicated that family chaos at T1 predicted increased depressed affect at T2. Additionally, cohesion predicted less depressed affect when sibling security was high. Chaos predicted greater depressed affect when friendship security was low or average. These findings provide support for the need to consider the specific familial and relational experiences that account for adolescents' social and emotional well-being. • Family functioning plays a role in shaping youth adjustment. • Sibling relationships and friendships can buffer the adverse experiences youth face. • Family chaos predicted increases in depressed affect. • Family cohesion predicted less depressed affect when sibling security was high. • Family chaos predicted greater depressed affect when friendship security was low.