(PS2-A5) The Effects of Depression and Anxiety on Friendship Functions

Friendships are critical for development by establishing social and emotional connections (Leibowitz, 2018). Past literature suggests that a friend fulfills six friendship functions (FF): stimulating companionship, help, intimacy, reliable alliance, self-validation, and emotional security (Mendelson & Aboud, 1999). However, psychopathology can adversely impact feelings of satisfaction, engagement and overall quality of friendships (Bukowski et al., 1994; Choukas-bradly & Prinstein, 2004). For example, social anxiety (SA) may lower friendship quality and increase the likelihood of experiencing negative affect (Rodebaugh et al., 2015). Similarly, worry may be linked to an individual’s level of satisfaction with their social network during adulthood (Babcock, 2012). Moreover, depressive symptoms may impair attachment, interpersonal communication, and social perception (e.g., Kupferberg et al., 2016). Thus, the emergence and persistence of psychopathology may lead to difficulties in how individuals engage in and maintain friendships. The current work investigated whether self-reported psychopathology measures of SA, depression and worry predict perspectives toward FF.

A sample of 106 participants (75.5% female; M=19.98 years, SD=2.14; 80.2% Caucasian; 83.0% Non-Hispanic/Non-Chicano/Non-Spanish Origin) completed the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS; Mattick & Clarke, 1998), the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ; Meyer et al., 1990), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; Beck et al., 1987), and the McGill Friendship Questionnaire – Friendship Function (MFQ-FF; Mendelson & Aboud, 1997). Multiple linear regressions analyzed predictive utility of psychopathology on perspectives of FF across subscales of the MFQ-FF: Stimulating Companionship, Help, Intimacy, Reliable Alliance, Self-Validation, and Emotional Security.

Regression analysis exhibited a significant overall intimacy model, F(3,102)=4.46, p< .01, R2=.12. PSWQ scores significantly predicted intimacy scores, β=.29, t =3.31, p< .01, as did BDI scores, β=-.28, t=-2.36, p</em> < .05. Moreover, a separate regression analysis exhibited a significant overall reliable alliance model, F(3,102)=3.10, p< .05, R2=.08. PSWQ scores significantly predicted reliable alliance scores, β=.29, t=2.46, p< .05.

Results suggest that different forms of psychopathology may differentially predict perspectives of FF. Notably, worry symptoms may predict increases in intimacy and reliable alliance, whereas depressive symptoms may predict decreases in intimacy. However, no other FF were significantly predicted by psychopathology, and SA did not significantly predict any FF. Thus, experiences of worry and depression may be important to understand when considering challenges surrounding intimacy (i.e., sensitivity to others’ needs, being open and honest of thoughts and feelings) and development of reliable alliance (i.e., availability and loyalty).