Amplification of Affect, Emotional Reactivity, and Physiological Reactivity During Adolescent Friendship Interactions: Implications for Somatic Symptoms

Abstract

Despite the importance of close friends for emotional development during adolescence, little is known about how affective experiences within friendships affect physical well-being. Across two studies and samples, the current study examined the extent that behaviors that amplify affect, emotional reactivity, and autonomic physiological reactivity within the context of friendship interactions were associated with adolescents’ somatic symptoms of depression and anxiety cross-sectionally (Study 1) and over a one-year period (Study 2). In Study 1, 196 adolescents (Mage = 14.16, 67% girls) participated with a same-gender friend. They completed Problem Talk and Plan a Party friendship interactions that were coded for dwelling on negative affect and enhancing positive affect. Adolescents reported on positive and negative emotions before and after each task, applied sensors to assess physiological reactivity (respiratory sinus arrhythmia; RSA, skin conductance levels; SCL), and reported on somatic symptoms. During Problem Talk, increases in negative emotions and SCL were associated with greater somatic symptoms, and increases in positive emotions were associated with lower somatic symptoms. During Plan a Party, enhancing positive affect related to lower somatic symptoms. In Study 2, 110 adolescents (Mage = 15.80, 75% girls) completed the same procedure as Study 1 and also reported on somatic symptoms again oneyear later. Increases in positive emotions after Problem Talk and increases in RSA during both tasks were associated with lower somatic symptoms over time. The current study provides evidence that emotional experiences within friendships are linked to adolescents’ reported somatic symptoms, particularly when considering positive emotional experiences.