Healthy Relationships in Adolescence

During adolescence, young people learn how to form safe and healthy relationships with friends, parents, teachers, and romantic partners. Both adolescent males and females often try on different identities and roles during this time, and relationships contribute to their development. Peers, in particular, play a big role in identity formation, but relationships with caring adults – including parents, mentors, and coaches – are also important for adolescent development. Often, the parent-adolescent relationship is the one that informs how a young person handles other relationships. Unfortunately, adolescents sometimes develop unhealthy relationships and experience or exhibit bullying or dating violence.