Exploring Adolescent Peer Relationships Online and Offline: An Empirical and Social Network Analysis

The study explores adolescents´ online and offline peer social networks with the application of Social Network Analysis approach. Data shows that the two social networks are significantly different in terms of ego-network size, ties, density and centrality, while the expected association between adolescents´ peer social network with social support is marginally supported. Data also shows that loneliness does not correlate with any of adolescent´s social network basic indicators. Implications of the study are discussed.