Interpersonal difficulties in adolescents:sex and age differences

Subject Areas : روان درمانگری

Sadegh Taghiloo ¹ , Omid Shokri ² , Saeid Toulabi ³ , Ali Taghvaeinia ⁴

1 - PhD Islamic Azad University Astara Branch
2 - PhD Shahid Beheshti University
3 - MA in Education Psychology
4 - PhD Candidate Shahid Chamran University

Received: 2015-06-03 Accepted : 2015-06-03 Published : 2011-06-22

Keywords: Adolescence, interpersonal difficulties, sex and age differences,

Abstract :

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of sex and age differences in interpersonal difficulties of adolescents. Five hundred adolescents (276 females, 224 males) who were selected by multi-stage random sampling method, completed the Questionnaire about Interpersonal Difficulties for Adolescents (QIDA; Inglés, Hidalgo & Méndez, 2005). The results of multivariate of variance analysis (MANOVA) indicated that (1) sex and age factors had significant effects on the multiple dimensions of interpersonal difficulties, (2) girls obtained higher scores in the subscales of assertiveness, heterosexual relationships and public speaking, and boys obtained higher scores in the subscales of family relationships and close friendships, and (3) early adolescents in comparison with mid-adolescents and late adolescents obtained higher scores in the various dimensions of interpersonal difficulties. The differentiated model of sex effect for the various dimensions of interpersonal difficulties emphasizes the importance of sex-role socialization process. Also, the significant effect of age groups for the multiple subscales of interpersonal difficulties emphasizes the importance of Elkind's socio-cognitive perspective on adolescent development.