Several
studies
have
shown
that
the
presence
of
a
best
friend,
but
not
a
child’s
popularity,
is
a
significant
predictor
of
positive
mental
health.
This
study
was
designed
to
examine
whether
‘best
friendship’
and
‘popularity’
have
differential
effects
on
the
happiness
and
wellbeing
of
primary
school
children
in
New
Zealand.
Children
(23
males
and
35
females
aged
approximately
9-‐10
years
old)
listed
three
classroom
friends,
including
their
best
friend
for
whom
they
completed
a
Friendship
Intimacy
Scale
of
common
friendship
activities
(such
as
sharing
secrets).
Children
also
completed
three
measures
of
happiness
and
wellbeing.
Each
child
was
assessed
as
high
or
low
in
popularity
on
the
basis
of
the
number
of
friendship
nominations
received.
Each
child
was
also
assessed
as
either
having
a
best
friend
or
not
according
to
whether
their
best-‐friend
nomination
was
reciprocated
or
not
and
whether
or
not
the
pair
engaged
in
a
high
level
of
common
friendship
activities.
This
created
four
types
of
friendship
patterns:
‘high
popular/best
friend’,
‘high
popular/no
best
friend’,
‘low
popular/best
friend’
and
‘low
popular/no
best
friend’.
Scores
on
the
measures
of
happiness
and
wellbeing
were
examined
as
a
function
of
the
four
friendship
types.
Unlike
previous
research,
no
significant
differences
in
happiness
and
wellbeing
were
found
between
the
four
groups.
These
results
are
discussed
in
terms
of
the
limitations
of
the
study
and
the
opportunities
for
further
research.
