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Friendship bonds in adolescence
1Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, State University of New York, Buffalo 14260.
Adolescence
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Adolescent friendships prioritize interpersonal connections over achievement and physical traits as they mature. This developmental trend shows the highest change in late adolescence.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Adolescent Psychology
Background:
- Friendship formation is crucial for adolescent social and emotional development.
- Understanding the evolving values that shape adolescent friendships is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key factors influencing friendship formation in adolescents.
- To examine developmental trends in friendship values across different grade levels.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative study involving 204 adolescents across three grade levels.
- Utilized an open-ended questionnaire to gather data on friendship values.
Main Results:
- Interpersonal relations were the most significant factor for both genders at all grade levels.
- The importance of interpersonal connections increased with age.
- The influence of achievement and physical attributes on friendship decreased over time.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent friendship selection demonstrates a clear developmental trajectory.
- Friendship values shift from external attributes to internal qualities during adolescence.
- Late adolescence is a period of significant change in friendship dynamics.