DIFFERENCES IN PRIVACY BOUNDARIES FOR EARLY AND LATE ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Abstract In this study, we researched differences in privacy boundaries towards parents for early (12-13 year-olds) and late (16-17 year-olds). We examined four issues, specifically online behavior, friendship, finances, and romantic involvement. We researched the privacy boundaries by taking questionnaires among students of two secondary schools in the Netherlands (N = 89). As expected, general privacy boundaries became more strict with age. However, for girls the permeability of privacy boundaries for the issue friendship increased with age. We can also conclude that late adolescents expect more privacy considering their finances. Having a part time job influenced the outcome in the way that adolescents with a part time job reported less permeable privacy boundaries. We can see this qualifier as a marker of autonomy and maturity. Whether there are also age differences in privacy boundaries in other life issues, should be studied in research with larger samples.