Page No., 330-340
Namita Narula
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
Nandita Babu and Mehreen Fatima
University of Delhi, Delhi.
Healthy peer relationships are critical for an individual’s social, emotional, and cognitive
development during adolescence. In these changing times, the schooling system has
undergone substantial shifts in the last decade, resulting in the evolution of peer
relationships in teenagers. This study’s goal was to explore the dynamics of peer
relationships among adolescents, in order to unravel the differences in different aspects
of peer relationships in young and old adolescents. The participants were placed into
two groups based on their ages: Group 1 (aged 12-14 years) and Group 2 (aged 15-17
years). This distinction was made to comprehend the phenomenon better and to
distinguish the two groups on the same. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect
data, which were then analyzed using thematic analysis. The data revealed five main
themes – Interwoven bonds: Friendships, Bullying and Victimization, Conflict &
Resolution, Influence of Media, and Parental and Teacher Influence. This study has
implications for understanding adolescents’ social development, mental health, and
broader societal dynamics.