Can Adolescents Be Taught to Cultivate Healthier Friendships? A Digital Intervention Takes Aim

Adolescence is a critical period for social development, with peer relationships playing a central role in emotional and psychological well-being. Despite the importance of friendships during this developmental stage, few interventions focus specifically on teaching adolescents the components of healthy peer relationships. Dr. Hannah Schacter and Dr. Julie Wargo Aikins, developmental psychologists at Wayne State University and the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, are addressing this gap through a novel digital initiative: Enhancing Adolescent Friendships through Digital Education.

This evidence-informed, eight-week online program is designed to equip adolescents with the knowledge and skills necessary to build and maintain high-quality friendships. Unlike traditional social-emotional learning programs that broadly address interpersonal skills, this intervention focuses explicitly on friendship processes. Weekly modules consist of brief, social media–style videos covering key constructs such as trust, jealousy, peer influence, digital communication, and the interplay between friendships and romantic relationships.

Participants will learn to identify both adaptive and maladaptive patterns in friendship dynamics and explore how these relationships influence broader mental health outcomes. To ensure content relevance and accessibility, the program is co-designed with a Youth Advisory Board, reflecting best practices in participatory research.

A pilot study is currently being conducted with a cohort of 50 adolescents from the Detroit metropolitan area. Participants complete pre- and post-intervention assessments evaluating changes in friendship satisfaction, perceived social connectedness, and knowledge of friendship-related constructs. These data will inform the program’s efficacy and guide potential future scalability.

By leveraging digital platforms to deliver developmentally appropriate, scientifically grounded content, this intervention offers a promising and scalable approach to enhancing adolescent social development. If effective, it could represent a significant advancement in preventive mental health efforts, promoting long-term relational competence and emotional well-being.