KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Journal of Adolescent and Youth Psychological Studies (JAYPS) 2981-2526 7 Serial Number 49 2026 09 10 Characterizing the Psychological Patterns Associated With Toxic Peer Relationships During Adolescence Characterizing the Psychological Patterns Associated With Toxic Peer Relationships During Adolescence 1 17 EN Journal Article 2026 04 26 <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to identify distinct latent profiles of toxic peer relationships among adolescents and examine differences among these profiles in emotion-regulation difficulties, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and stress.</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials:</strong> This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted among 486 adolescents aged 13–18 years enrolled in secondary schools in France during the 2025–2026 academic year. Participants were selected through multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected using measures of peer victimization, relational aggression, friendship conflict, peer trust, peer communication, peer alienation, emotion-regulation difficulties, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and stress. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 29 and Mplus 8.10. Pearson correlations were calculated, and latent profile analysis was used to identify distinct peer-relationship patterns. Competing models were compared using AIC, BIC, sample-size-adjusted BIC, entropy, the Lo-Mendell-Rubin likelihood ratio test, and the bootstrap likelihood ratio test. Differences in psychological outcomes across profiles were examined using multivariate and univariate analyses with adjusted pairwise comparisons.</p> <p><strong>Findings:</strong> A four-profile solution provided the most interpretable and statistically adequate representation of the data, yielding Secure/Low-Toxicity, Conflict-Dominant, Alienated-Victimized, and High-Toxicity profiles. Significant between-profile differences were found for emotion-regulation difficulties, F(3, 482) = 102.47, p &lt; .001, η² = .39; self-esteem, F(3, 482) = 95.63, p &lt; .001, η² = .37; depression, F(3, 482) = 116.28, p &lt; .001, η² = .42; anxiety, F(3, 482) = 82.91, p &lt; .001, η² = .34; and stress, F(3, 482) = 101.36, p &lt; .001, η² = .39. The High-Toxicity profile showed the poorest psychological functioning, whereas the Secure/Low-Toxicity profile showed the most favorable outcomes. The overall multivariate effect of profile membership remained significant after adjustment for age and gender, Wilks' Λ = .49, F(15, 1319.62) = 25.84, p &lt; .001, partial η² = .20.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Toxic peer relationships during adolescence are heterogeneous and form distinct psychological profiles that differ substantially in emotional regulation, self-esteem, and psychological distress.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/jayps/article/download/6299/11952