The role of friendships in children's happiness and wellbeing

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dc.contributor.authorTaylor, Jane C.
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-16T22:52:21Z
dc.date.available2015-07-16T22:52:21Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.description.abstractSeveral 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.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10179/6865
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMassey Universityen_US
dc.rightsThe Authoren_US
dc.subjectFriendship in childrenen_US
dc.subjectChildren's wellbeingen_US
dc.subjectChild mental healthen_US
dc.subjectChildren's happinessen_US
dc.subjectFriendshipen_US
dc.titleThe role of friendships in children's happiness and wellbeingen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
massey.contributor.authorTaylor, Jane C.en_US
thesis.degree.grantorMassey Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Educational Psychology (M.Ed.Psych.)en_US
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