As friends increase in closeness and influence during adolescence, some friends may become overprotective, or excessively and intrusively protective. Engaging in overprotective behavior, and being the recipient of such behavior, may have positive and negative adjustment trade-offs. The current study examines, for the first time, bidirectional associations between friend overprotection and several adjustment trade-offs, including internalizing problems (i.e., depressive and anxiety symptoms), peer difficulties (i.e., rejection and physical and relational victimization), and positive friendship quality (i.e., closeness, help, and security) during early adolescence. Participants were 269 young adolescents (140 boys; M_age = 11.46, SD = 0.41) who completed self-report and peer nomination measures in their schools at two time points 4 months apart (Fall and Spring of the school year). Structural equation models revealed that being overprotected by a friend predicted decreases in friendship quality and was predicted by peer difficulties and internalizing problems (negatively). Being overprotective of friends predicted increases in internalizing symptoms and was predicted by peer difficulties. Findings are novel as they suggest that friend overprotection may be risky (and not beneficial) for both the overprotector and the overprotectee, setting the stage for future inquiry in this new area of peer relations research.

随着青春期朋友的亲密程度和影响力的增加，一些朋友可能会变得过度保护，或过度和侵入性保护。从事过度保护行为，并成为这种行为的接受者，可能会有积极和消极的调整权衡。目前的研究首次检验了朋友过度保护与几种调整权衡之间的双向关联，包括内化问题（即抑郁和焦虑症状）、同伴困难（即拒绝以及身体和关系受害）以及积极的友谊青春期早期的品质（即亲近、帮助和安全）。参与者为 269 名青少年（140 名男孩；M_年龄 = 11.46，SD = 0.41) 在相隔 4 个月的两个时间点（学年的秋季和春季）完成学校自我报告和同伴提名措施的人。结构方程模型显示，被朋友过度保护预示着友谊质量下降，并由同伴困难和内化问题（负面）预测。过度保护朋友预示着内化症状的增加，并被同伴困难所预示。研究结果是新颖的，因为它们表明朋友过度保护可能对过度保护者和过度保护者都有风险（而不是有益），为同伴关系研究这一新领域的未来调查奠定了基础。