This study examined relations of parents' marital relationship and parenting styles to concurrent and long-term peer-related outcomes in adolescent boys. Measures of the marital relationship included mothers', fathers', and sons' reports of the marriage. Peer outcomes included social impact and preference among peers in early adolescence and aspects of same-sex and opposite-sex relationships in mid-adolescence. Based on a sample of 62 boys and their parents, correlational results indicated that the quality of the marriage when sons were early adolescents was related significantly to peer outcomes at both points in time, with sons' perceptions of the marriage being the most consistent predictor Results of multiple regression analyses indicated that these relations were robust, even when taking into account harsh and inconsistent parenting. The role of parents' marital relationship in adolescents' lives is discussed.
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