A Correlational Study of Peer Relationships and Mental Health among Adolescents

Abstract

Adolescence is an important developmental period characterized by significant physical, emotional, social, and psychological changes. During this stage, peer relationships become highly influential as adolescents seek acceptance, support, companionship, and a sense of belonging from their friends and social groups. The quality of peer relationships may have an important impact on adolescents’ emotional adjustment and overall mental health. The present study aims to find out the correlation between peer relationships and mental health among adolescents. A correlational research design was used for the present study. The sample consisted of 589 adolescents selected from the adolescent population. The Peer Relationship Scale developed by Saroj R. Pandey and Dr. Rajshree S. Vaishnav was used to assess peer relationships, while the Mental Health Scale developed by Dr. Tarseem and Dr. Akhtar Bano was used to measure mental health among adolescents. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was applied to examine the relationship between the two variables. The findings revealed a strong negative and statistically significant correlation between peer relationships and mental health among adolescents (r = -0.842, p < .001). The results indicate that difficulties in peer relationships are significantly associated with poorer mental health among adolescents. The study highlights the importance of healthy peer interactions, supportive friendships, and positive social environments in promoting adolescents’ psychological well-being. The findings may be useful for parents, teachers, and counsellors in developing strategies to improve peer relationships and support adolescent mental health.