Current Projects

Friendship Interactions during Adolescence: An Observational and Physiological Assessment

We are currently conducting a study with 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th grade adolescents and their friends. For this project, we are interested in learning how friends’ behaviors during their interactions with each other relate to their physiological responses (e.g., heartrate) and overall well-being. To participate, each adolescent visits the lab with a same-gender close friend of their choosing. During a 2-hour lab visit, the adolescents answer questions about their friendship and well-being, put on sensors to measure heart rate, respiration, and skin conductance (i.e., sweat), and complete activities together in which we give them difference topics to talk about. Each adolescent receives a $20 American Express gift card for participating.

To schedule an appointment, parents or teens can sign up here or email Sarah Borowski (PeerRelationsLab@missouri.edu). Each teen will need a signed parental permission form at the time of participation.

Follow-up to the 2007-2010 Friendship Project

In 2007-2009, Dr. Rose recruited 7^th and 10^th graders to participate in a study examining co-rumination among adolescent friends. The primary goal of the present study (314 adolescent friend dyads) was to identify microsocial processes that sustain and reinforce problem talk among adolescent co-ruminating friends.” (Rose, 2014). Over the past few years, Dr. Rose restarted the recruitment process with the same participants and invited them back to participate in a follow up study. The follow up study was used to examine how the friendships people have in adolescence are related to their relationships, adjustment, and academic/vocational lives as adults. Data collection for the current study is still ongoing. Lindsay Durdle, MU senior, is currently completing her capstone honor’s thesis using data from both these studies under the guidance of Dr. Rose. Lindsay’s thesis will be examining how different behaviors in adolescence, like emotional adjustment and social competence, affect one’s transition into adulthood, and which behaviors are not “grown out” of.

Upcoming Projects

Check back soon for updated upcoming projects!