Human Ecology Research

The Korean Home Economics Association (대한가정학회)
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Friendship Characteristics of Rejected Children in Middle Childhood

학령기 거부집단 아동의 친구관계 특성

  • Shin, Yoolim (Department of Child & Family Studies, The Catholic University of Korea)
  • 신유림 (가톨릭대학교 아동학전공)
  • Received : 2019.03.06
  • Accepted : 2019.04.29
  • Published : 2019.08.30
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Abstract

This study investigated children's friendship factors such as number of friends, friendship quality, and friends' characteristics as a function of children's sociometric status. The concordance between children's and their friends'perceptions of friendship quality was examined. Subjects were fifth grade students recruited from two public schools. The peer nomination index assessed peer rejection and acceptance. Positive and negative nominations as well as social preference identified children into rejected and popular groups. Children who nominated each other on their list of friends were considered mutual friends. Children reported the quality of their friendships using the friendship quality scale. The results showed that rejected children had fewer mutual friends compared to popular children. Rejected children as well as their friends perceived their friendships less positively. Moreover, rejected children's perception showed lower correlations with their friends'perceptions than popular children's perceptions. Furthermore, rejected children were similar with friends in respect to peer rejection level. It was concluded that rejected children's problems in their peer group and dyadic friendships may mutually influence each other. The findings from this study highlight the need for future research on friendship quality and psychosocial adjustment for rejected children.

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References

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