Beneficial or Fostering Future struggles (B.F.F.s)? Characterizing the Role of Friends in the Developmental Trajectory of Maltreated Adolescent

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Despite extensive evidence that friendships play an integral role in adolescent development, we know
relatively little about the friendships of maltreated adolescents, a group that is at significantly elevated risk for
experiencing future adverse outcomes. The existing literature regarding the influence of friendships on
maltreated youth’s development is highly conflicting and limited by investigations that do not account for the full
complexity of friendship experiences. Thus, there is a critical need to study how maltreated adolescents’
friendships might mitigate or exacerbate their risk for proceeding on negative developmental trajectories.
The overall objective of this project is to investigate how the friendship experiences of maltreated and
non-maltreated adolescents differ, and understand how these experiences influence risk for adverse
outcomes. There are three specific aims. During the K99 phase, this proposal will (1) use data from two
prospective longitudinal studies to identify how maltreated and non-maltreated adolescents’ friendships differ,
and (2) use data from both studies and results from Aim 1 to test for the potential mediating effects of multiple
friendship experiences on the relationship between maltreatment and psychopathology/peer victimization. Aim
3 will be completed during the R00 phase and use clinical trial methodology to pilot a procedure to assess
maltreated adolescents’ friendships using observational and multi-reporter methods, and investigate how they
influence psychophysiological reactivity to a laboratory stressor and later psychopathology/peer victimization.
This project is innovative because it represents a substantive improvement upon existing research by
considering the influence of a range of friendship experiences on the adjustment outcomes of maltreated
adolescents using longitudinal data and multi-reporter and observational methodology. This contribution will be
significant because it will help to delineate whether friendship can offer the same health and social benefits
and/or risks for some of our most vulnerable adolescents, as they provide for normative/low-risk populations.
This proposal will greatly enhance the PI’s career development and enable her to advance toward her
long-term goal of becoming an independent investigator at a research institution. Penn State College of
Medicine provides an optimal environment for training with a wealth of resources for career development and
several interdisciplinary faculty who study child maltreatment and are actively engaged in mentoring the next
generation of maltreatment researchers. Training and mentorship will be provided to develop expertise in the
study of friendships; acquire skills in longitudinal data collection and analysis; learn new multi-reporter, multi-
level, and observational techniques; and gain clinical trial experience. Furthermore, the PI will be engaged in
training activities that foster her transition to independence, including grant writing, publishing, presenting, and
preparing for the academic job market. These skills and activities, combined with the proposed research, will
prepare the PI to compete for future R01 funding.

Grant Number: 5R00HD103958-05
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Michelle Brown