Researchers from the Free University of Amsterdam conducted a study exploring how peers and friend networks during school years shape a young person’s mental health and stability. The findings were published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence (JYA), a reputable venue for adolescent psychology research.
The focus was on internalizing problems, which cover anxious feelings, depressive symptoms, and social withdrawal that can affect a teenager’s daily life and outlook. The study sought to understand how the size and quality of friendship circles relate to these internal struggles and how young people interpret their place among classmates.
Involving 423 students from Dutch high schools, all in the early to mid-teens range of 11 to 15 years old, the research gathered data through sociometric assessments. These assessments asked participants to name up to 15 classmates whom they considered friends. By comparing reciprocal friendships (where both students name each other as friends) with non-reciprocal ones, researchers gained insight into how mutual social ties or the lack thereof correlate with mental health indicators.
The results indicated a clear association: teens with larger, more reciprocal friend networks tended to report lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Conversely, students who reported a narrower circle of friends or fewer reciprocal friendships were more likely to experience emotional distress and showed a stronger desire to expand their social circles, sometimes wishing for more friends to feel included in the school community.
Researchers proposed that feeling left out or fearing inadequacy in social settings can contribute to emotional problems in adolescents who are less connected. The study underscores that perceived social belonging and the ability to form supportive peer bonds can act as protective factors for mental well-being during formative school years.
Earlier literature suggests that socioeconomic background may influence the ease with which children form friendships at school. In particular, children from lower-income families often face additional barriers to establishing and maintaining social connections with peers, which can compound stress and affect overall adjustment in the classroom setting. This broader context helps explain why peer relationships matter so much for adolescent mental health and why schools should pay attention to how social dynamics unfold among students across diverse backgrounds.