Positive Peer Group Affiliation, Puberty, and Social and Emotional Development: A Strength-Based Approach.

Adolescence serves as a crucial bridge between childhood and adulthood, characterized by significant cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social changes (Crocetti and Rubini ; Spear ). These substantial changes influence emotional regulation, behavioral control, identity development, abstract thinking, and social functioning (Crone and Dahl ; Keating ). Since adolescence represents a sensitive developmental period, mental health disruptions such as traumatic experiences during this stage may interfere with developmental processes that are important for long‐term adjustment and well‐being (Blakemore and Mills ; Sisk and Gee ). Exposure to trauma during adolescence can significantly disrupt the capacities to regulate emotions, manage behaviors, develop a stable sense of self, and navigate social environments effectively (American Psychiatric Association [APA] ; Benjet et al. ; Herman ; Knipscheer et al. ). Trauma occurs when individuals experience life‐threatening events or serious threats to their well‐being, often beyond their control, and perceive these as threats to their survival or sense of integrity (Benjet et al. ; Herman ; Knipscheer et al. ; Lassemo and Sandanger ). Following trauma, various symptoms may emerge, including intrusive memories, persistent avoidance of reminders of the events, negative shifts in mood and thoughts, and notable changes in arousal and reactivity (APA ). Repeated and prolonged exposure to traumatic events can lead to chronic difficulties in regulating emotions, negative self‐concept, and challenges in relationships (Cloitre et al. ; World Health Organization ). Although trauma exposure may affect multiple areas of adolescent development, interpersonal functioning assumes particular importance during adolescence. Adolescents develop increasingly complex understandings of themselves, others, and social relationships through ongoing interactions with family members, peers, and broader social environments (Crocetti and Rubini ; Pfeifer and Berkman ; Spear ; Steinberg and Morris ). During adolescence, the focus on interpersonal relationships shifts from family bonds to peer and romantic connections, accompanied by increased sensitivities in social interactions (Burnett et al. ; Lam et al. ; Sebastian et al. ). Within this developmental context, trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms are associated with increased interpersonal difficulties among adolescents and may function as transdiagnostic risk factors for broader psychosocial dysfunction (Elmi and Clapp ; Habib and Labruna ; McLaughlin et al. ). Such interpersonal difficulties can shape adolescents' emotional well‐being, social adjustment, and academic functioning, with implications for long‐term psychosocial adjustment (Morosan et al. ; Shah et al. ; Wilson et al. ).