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.