Adolescent friendships and their impact on self-rated health in early adulthood. A prospective cohort study.

AIMS: The study aimed to examine the association between adolescent friendships (ages 15 and 18 years) and self-rated health in early adulthood (age 29 years).

METHODS

The study population consisted of participants from the West Jutland cohort study who reported on their close friendships at ages 15 and 18 years, and self-rated health at age 29 years. The presence of at least one close friend and self-rated health were assessed through questionnaires, and self-rated health was dichotomized as either high or low. Logistic regression analyses were adjusted for sex, family functioning, income, and parental education.

RESULTS

Findings indicate that 89% of participants at age 15 years and 92% at age 18 years reported having close friends. The presence of close friendships at age 15 was significantly associated with higher self-rated health at age 29 years (odds ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.1-3.2). However, the association for friendships at age 18 years was not statistically significant. Experiencing close friendships at both ages 15 and 18 years showed a tendency toward an associated with self-rated health, but the association was not statistically significant (2.0, 95% confidence interval 0.6-6.6). Sensitivity analysis revealed that altering the self-rated health threshold weakened associations.

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasizes the importance of adolescent friendships for long-term health. While the association was strongest at age 15 years, the findings underscore the need for further research into friendship quality and its lasting impact on health outcomes. The study highlights the importance of close friendships, advocating for interventions to promote social connections and reduce loneliness during this critical period.